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The Complete Diaries of 

THEODOR HERZL 


Edited by 

Raphael Patai 


Translated by 

HARRY ZOHN 

VOLUME III 


New York 


THE HERZL PRESS 
THOMAS YOSELOFF 


London 


(c) i960 by The Theodor Herzl Foundation, Inc. 

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 60-8594 

Thomas Yoseloff, Publisher 
1 1 East 36th Street 
New York i6,N.Y. 

Thomas Yoseloff Ltd. 

123 New Bond Street 
London W. 1, England 


Printed in the United States of America 


Contents 


Volume III 



Page 

Book Seven 


April 25, 1899-June 17, 1900 

829 

Book Eight 


June 18, 1900-May 9, 1901 

965 

Book Nine 


May 9, 1901-February 11, 1902 

1099 

Book Ten 


February 13, 1902-April4, 1902 

1213 



Book Seven 


Begun on April 25, 1899 
on the train near Coblenz 
On the way back from Cologne 
to Vienna 



April 25, on the train 

I had told Kann and Heymann to join me at Wolffsohn’s in 
Cologne in order to discuss the eventualities of the subscription to 
the J.C.T., which ends on the 28th of the month. 

Day before yesterday we met in Cologne. For 24 hours, inter- 
rupted only by sleep, we discussed all matters affecting the Bank. 
According to our estimate the subscription probably won’t yield 
more than 200,000 shares, y 4 of which falls to Russia. Question is 
whether under such circumstances we can proceed with the allot- 
ment.* 

I told the gentlemen with rudesse [rudely] that now it would be 
demonstrated whether they were the suitable co-workers. Kann 
immediately said, “No.” 

Yesterday Heymann surprised us with the announcement that 
he had to resign as a director because he was going to South Africa 
for three months. After his return he intended to resume his post. 
I advised him to forego handing in his resignation and having it 
declined by the administrative board; during the period in which 
the letters went back and forth he would be free from any respon- 
sibility, about which he seemed to be reluctant; and after his return 
he could still be taken back on the board of directors* without a 
new election. He said he would have to discuss this with his lawyer 
first. 

After a lot of pointless, intricate back-and-forth, it appeared that 
the gentleman would proceed with the allotment* in any case. The 
shares needed to make 250,000 are to be subscribed by a syndicate 
which will be formed by Wolffsohn. 

* # * 

As an interlude, which I presented as a matter expressly to be 
kept separate from the J.C.T. and the movement, I described for 
the three gentlemen a plan for the acquisition of a newspaper. This 
would require a war chest of 500 thousand guilders. With this 
money and a declaration of intention to found a rival paper, in my 
opinion the majority of the newspaper shares could be bought on 
* In English in the original. 


831 


832 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

the basis of a ten-per-cent capitalization. Heymann, who would 
have the money for it, looked scornful and declined under pretexts 
Kann and Wolffsohn don’t have the money. In order to raise it i t 
would be necessary to confide in bankers. This would take the lid 
off the whole thing and make it impossible. 

Nothing, thenl 

Never was a more difficult task undertaken with more inade- 
quate means. I am going back deeply depressed. 

Tomorrow I shall once again have to make post-facto excuses to 
my “chiefs” for the trip I made without previously requesting 
leave. Who knows how much longer they will put up with such 
escapades? 

The movement requires continual deplacements [absences]; and 
there is no doubt that the N. Fr. Pr. could dismiss me for non-fulfill- 
ment of my duties at the office, “with all due respect for my differ- 
ences of opinion.” This wretched collision with duty tires, un- 
nerves, and wears me out more than anything else. 

* * * 

Prior to my departure I received a letter from Danusso in which 
he requests a memorandum for Artin and Tahsin, to be submitted 
to the Sultan. 

Kellner writes from Paris that he has won Sir Ashmead Bartlett, 
the English friend of the Sultan’s, for our cause. Sir Ashmead 
Bartlett, M.P., is willing to intercede, but we would have to offer 
to procure for the Sultan a loan of at least a million pounds, for 
the time being, since the financial troubles are pressing ones. 

# # * 

From one of the next stations I will send Leon Kellner the 
following wire: 

Kellner, c/o J. Kaufman, 2 rue des Digui^res, Paris. 

Will be in Vienna tomorrow morning. Would like to speak Ellis 
for few minutes when he passes through the Westbahnhof. 

Go to Gare Est this evening, see if he travels Orient Express, and 
notify him orally. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 833 
Expecting wired reply Vienna. 


Also, to Wolffsohn: 

Inquire tonight at sleeping-car London-Vienna whether Sir Ellis 

Ashmead Bartlett of London aboard. 

Expecting your wired reply home tomorrow morning. Regards. 

Benjamin. 


April 28, Vienna 

The red-letter day. Will the minimum for the Bank be raised? 
I doubt it. 


* # # 

Wrote to Wolffsohn today and asked if it would be possible to 
raise 20,000 guilders, which would be a one year’s subvention 
placing the Wiener Tageblatt at our disposal. I would make York- 
Steiner the editor. 


* * * 

Konried and Miinz, contributors to the Neues Wiener Tage- 
blatt, are now soliciting the Correspondance de l ’Est which I am 
supporting. As Mme de Newlinski informs me, they would like to 
continue the journal with the aid of subsidies from the T urkish 
government and from banks. Thus, send it through the blackmail.* 
I am supposed to speak with them and sound them out. 


April 28 

Letter to Sir Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, M.P., British Post Office, 
Constantinople: ** 

• Translator’s Note: Herzl’s pun ( auf der eigenen Erpresse drucken) involves a 
combination of the words for “press’* and “extortion/* 

•• Original text. 


834 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 
Dear Sir, 

Professor Kellner writes me, that he had the pleasure of explain- 
ing to you the aims of our Zionist movement, and that you were 
kind enough to take an interest in it. I should write you an “ex- 
post” on the subject, but I am not able to do that in good English, 
and I would not put such a delicate matter into the hands of a trans- 
lator. The thing may however be told in a few words. The Zion- 
ists are the representatives of the scattered Jewish People. They 
would reestablish their unfortunate brethren in Palestine under 
the Suzerainty of H.M. the Sultan, and under a sufficient guaran- 
tee of public right. The Turkish Government could, by coming to 
an agreement with the Zionists, regenerate the finances of the Em- 
pire. For that purpose we have founded a new Bank with a Capital 
of 2 Million Pounds Sterling. Our Bank is to be the financial in- 
strument of our aims and the agent for procuring loans etc. for the 
Turkish government. I am ready to explain the matter to H.M. 
the Sultan. 

It is easy to understand, that a capital of two millions is not suffi- 
cient to carry out such a great plan. It is merely the first step. The 
next would be to form a large Land-Company with a capital of ten, 
and more, million pounds. 

All is prepared by me to make of that undertaking an enormous 
success, once the Sultan accepts my preliminary propositions. I 
have the intention to come to Constantinople within the near 
future. 

With the personal and material means at the disposal of our 
people we should be able to construct, in a very short time, rail- 
ways, harbours, a whole new culture. Christian fellow-workers will 
be welcome. The work is great enough for many energies. 

Believe me, dear Sir, 

Yours faithfully 
Th. Herzl. 

• * * 

Letter to Artin Pasha, to be transmitted by Danusso: * 

• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 835 

April 28, 1899 


Your Excellency: 

Permit me to introduce myself to you by recalling the memory 
of the lamented M. de Newlinski. He was a devoted servant of 
H M the Sultan and a sincere friend to Turkey. It was this devo- 
tion which was the source of his reasons for being a zealous propa- 
gator of Zionism, of which I have for some time been the humble 

representative. 

The purpose of Zionism is to create a lasting and legally assured 
refuge for our unfortunate, persecuted brethren in various coun- 
tries. We should like this refuge to be Palestine, if there is a possi- 
bility of obtaining His Majesty’s permission. The Jewish colonists 
will be faithful and devoted subjects of H.M., who, I believe, has 
never had reason to be anything but proud of his Jewish subjects. 
They will pay taxes through new organizations which will have to 
be created in the country. They will increase, together with their 
own well-being, the resources of that province of H.M. and of the 
whole Empire. 

For our part, we shall provide H.M.’s government with loans 
under conditions still to be worked out, but which will certainly 
be able to raise up to several hundreds of millions of francs. What 
we wish to obtain in return for these sacrifices and services is simply 
lasting security and a legal guarantee to work in peace for our poor, 
persecuted masses. 

We have discussed our plans and projects openly and loyally in 
two public congresses held in Basel, and in order to avoid all mis- 
understanding, we have taken care each time to begin our de- 
liberations by laying our respectful homage at the foot of H.M. the 
Sultan’s throne. 

The financial assistance that we wish to provide for T urkey, if 
she makes us welcome, will certainly not be limited to taxes and 
loans. Its entire financial situation can be put in order with our 
cooperation. 

You will have to retire the public debt and once more freely 


836 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

enjoy your own assets and resources. That will take perhaps a few 
years of circumspect and determined labor, but we will be fully 
successful. 

This task would require absolute secrecy and mutual confi- 
dence, because your enemies will not want Turkey to rise again 
and once more become materially independent. Everything will be 
done to thwart our beneficent undertaking, if it is not carried out 
with the utmost caution and skill 

I shall only call to your Excellency’s attention that every time 
financial assistance has been promised or provided to Turkey it 
was done by those who exacted usurious interest rates, subjected 
you to foreign management, and went away having impoverished 
the country still further. With us it is the other way round. The 
conditions under which you will obtain the money are reasonable 
ones. We offer you freedom from foreign control. And, last of all, 
these are not people who want to desert you, to abandon you, but 
who wish to unite their destiny with yours. 

To carry out our financial plans we have just established the 
Jewish Colonial Trust in London. It will serve as an intermediary 
in the initial transactions. For the future we have laid the ground- 
work for establishing the major companies that will be necessary. 
We can go no farther at present as long as we do not know whether 
an agreement is feasible or whether we will have to direct our plans 
toward another territory. 

If His Majesty the Sultan would do me the honor of granting 
me an audience, I would come to Constantinople with all speed to 
place my homage at the foot of his throne, reply respectfully to any 
objections that H.M., in his lofty wisdom, might see fit to make, 
and finally to supply all desired explanations and proofs. 

My numerous occupations would not allow me to go to Con- 
stantinople unless the audience were previously arranged. 

Kindly accept, Your Excellency, my highest regards. 

Yours faithfully, 
Dr. Th. H. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 837 

May 23 

Le ressort se fatigue [The well is running dry]. I can see it best 
by the gaps in the entries. Nothing since April 28. 

Yet quite a number of things happened during this period. New 
arrangements, obstacles, especially emanating from the deficient 
J.C.T. However, I believe that the other people aren’t any smarter 
and keener than our people of the J.C.T. 

The meetings of the Board of Directors in London and else- 
where always run along without any results, and afterwards the 
gentlemen run off comme si de rien n’etait [as if nothing had hap- 
pened]. 

* * * 

I have carried through two matters. 

1. The liquidation of the Newlinski affair. In the interest of the 
widow I am transforming the Correspondance de I’Est into a 
French-language daily. It will be headed by Kozmian, and I believe 
that in this way he will be kept attached to our cause. His Man Fri- 
day will be a French teacher, M. Bresse, who introduced himself to 
me as a Zionist quite some time ago. If the paper turns out well, the 
widow will be provided for. The funds for the change-over will be 
contributed by us. She will continue to draw her husband’s sub- 
sidy. 600 guilders a month for the production costs. By the end of 
the year the paper, to which I gave the name Petit Journal de 
Vienne, must pay its own way. 

2. Baroness Suttner wrote me, asking me to persuade the Neue 
Freie Presse to send her to the Peace Conference at The Hague 
with a partial subsidy of 1000 guilders. The publishers refused. 
So I offered her 1000 guilders to go there on behalf of the Welt. 
She was to interview the chief figures at the Conference on the sub- 
ject of Zionism. She accepted. In this way we shall have brought 
Zionism to the attention of assembled Europe without irritating 
Turkey or infringing on her rights. 

I will go to the Hague myself in June and try to meet the peace 
people at the Suttner salon. 


838 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzi 

May 23 

Yesterday, however, the A.C. decided that I should go to Con 
stantinople first. I have to go to London, too. It will again be 
squandering my nervous strength if I am to go to Constantinople 
in June, from there to The Hague, and then to London to restore 
order in the Bank and revive the dormant subscription. 

Fighting conferences everywhere, in London a standard- 
speech*! Very exhaustingl 


Wolffsohn and Kann are here. According to their reports, the 
minimum for the J.C.T. is assured at last. To be sure, Lourie is 
contributing 175 thousand to it. The allotment* is expected to- 
ward the end of June. But who can tell about that, with the busi- 
ness dragging on like this? 

I am now concentrating on the creation of the journalistic organ 
on which I have been working for a good long time. Difficulty is the 
nervus rerum [keynote]. 500 thousand essential, in shares of 50 
each. I have worked out a memorandum for Rosenbaum. The 
clou [crux] in it is the subsequent co-operative basis. Share certifi- 
cates at 100 guilders, with the privilege of receiving a free copy and 
dividends. I don’t know whether I shall carry this through, what 
with the lack of qualified assistants. But it is surely an idea of the 
coming century. This is the reform of the newspaper business. The 
subscribers as shareholders or cooperative members of the journal. 


May 31 

Through a peculiar incident I got to see Chief of Police Habrda 
yesterday. 

That bastard Graf who had attempted an extortion or a swindle 
on me several weeks ago had the nerve to accost me yesterday in 
town and abuse me. Fortunately, all I did was to yell “You bastard" 

* In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 839 


at him. I had already raised my umbrella in order to strike him. 
Then I saw that passers-by were gathering about us, so instead I 
walked away quickly. 

In the evening I called on Chief of Police Habrda, who greeted 
me charmingly, and turned the matter over to him. 

Then our conversation took a political turn and lasted for an 
hour. He only talked about the troubles of the government and 
how happy they were when they found a way out. “Ain’t there no 
way at all?” said the Chief, quoting a popular song. I slept on the 
matter and now, at 6: 30 in the morning, am writing him as follows: 

Dear Chief Habrda: 

Our talk yesterday has given me food for thought. I really be- 
lieve that there is a way out of the present botched situation. 

The main problem of the moment, it seems to me, is to spare our 
Emperor the necessity of making a decision against Austria or 
against Hungary, to keep the anti-dynastic parties on either side 
from making capital of it. 

The key to this is to make the Vienna Parliament capable of ac- 
tion again, so that the representatives of the people and not the 
Emperor may be responsible for the compromise. I feel that the 
present situation is enjoyed most by the most extreme obstruction- 
ists who are screaming the loudest about the lack of a parliament. 

This pretext must be taken away from them without making 
them too many concessions. At the root of the trouble are the lan- 
guage ordinances. If they remained in force, the present situation 
would be prolonged and worsened, and would permanently affect 
the relationship between both parts of the monarchy. The solu- 
tions of controversial economic questions and other problems of 
the moment could, to be sure, be made under the authority of His 
Majesty, but that is an expensive procedure from the point of view 
of political economy, so to speak. 

If, on the other hand, the language ordinances are simply with- 
drawn, this will be a blow to the prestige of the government which 
had to capitulate. 


840 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

If there is a middle road, that is where it must be looked for. The 
languages ordinances — which, by the way, now arouse only bore- 
dom in the widest circles — would have to be eliminated for the 
time being from the discussions of the politicians. 

To exert His Majesty’s authority for this — that is to say, this 
elimination — would be less dubious than to exert it between Aus- 
tria and Hungary. Indeed, the general personal popularity of our 
Emperor would only gain by a paternal interference in the Ger- 
man-Bohemian dispute. 

I have in mind a campaign — naturally, one tactfully prepared 
for in advance by publicity — for the temporary elimination of the 
language-ordinances question. As a constitutional monarch, the 
Emperor desires the houses of popular representatives to meet to- 
gether again, so that the compromise might be made by both 
houses. The language ordinances should be discussed once more at 
a conference of German and Czech representatives, one that might 
be opened by the Emperor himself. Depending on the result of 
this conference, the Emperor would then decide to what extent 
these ordinances should be modified. A further question would be 
whether the language ordinances should be suspended until this 
conference is held. However, perhaps the very announcement of 
such mediation to be handled by the Emperor himself will lead to 
appeasing the Parliament. 

The final aim would be to let the entire question of the language 
ordinances dry up in the sand. 

Any refusal on the part of the obstructionists to take this middle 
road would place them in the wrong in full view of their con- 
stituents, and they, not the government, would bear the responsi- 
bility for any economic disadvantages of the settlement. To sum 
up. It seems better to me from the point of view of political 
economy to use Imperial intervention, if indeed it must be re- 
sorted to, in an internal Austrian question, which can be dragged 
out and put to sleep through negotiations, than in a dualistic ques- 
tion, which presses for a quick decision and one against a part of 
the monarchy. 

I am writing these lines, my dear Chief, confident that you will 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 841 

hrinir their contents to the attention of only His Majesty and His 
Excellency Count Thun, ilyou so please, but give this information 


*r\ no AflP 


Yours faithfully, 
Dr. Th. H. 


* * * 

Karl-Ludwigs trasse 50, Wahring, Vienna. 


June 5, 1899 


Dear Sir: * 

In spite of what has happened I must correct an assertion made 
by Mr. Landau. He has written in his sheet that in the course of 
the suit which I have brought against him I have had you attacked 
by my attorney. That is a lie. 

I certainly hope that you do not believe me capable of such an 
action. 


To Bernard Lazare. 


Very sincerely yours, 
Herzl. 


June 5 

Had a peculiar experience yesterday. I wanted to have Eulen- 
burg’s Amsterdam letter photostated before my departure, so as to 
save the only copy from being destroyed. The letter had been kept 
in a safe since October. The day before yesterday I had it brought 
to my house, for Marmorek. I received it in the garden, then went 
to dinner, after which I drove to the city; and since I had an editor- 
ial to write for the Neue Freie Presse (about Dreyfus' return), I 
didn’t get home until late at night. 

# In French in the original. 


842 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Yesterday morning Marmorek came over with his photographic 
machine. I looked for the letter — not there. I got frightened, ran- 
sacked all drawers of my desk, etc. — nothing. For months there had 
been on my desk the manuscript of a novel, which I had happened 
to tum over to Rosenberger yesterday. Perhaps the letter had 
slipped into it. Kremenezky went to see Rosenberger, my father- 
nothing. 

In the afternoon I drove to the city myself — to Rosenberger to 
the office of the Welt, to my parents. Nothingl The letter which I 
had taken such good care of, which I wanted to protect from acci- 
dents forever, lost through this very precaution! A tragicomedy. In 
whose hands was it by that time? What a calamity I 

At that point my good father advised me to look in the garden, 
too. I drove home, hurried to the knoll of firs on which I had re- 
ceived the letter the day before yesterday. There was the precious 
letter lying on a bench. As chance would have it, in 24 hours the 
gardener had not been there to clean up, nor had our children, 
who tear up all letters. Nor had there been any rain, which would 
have soaked the letter and completely destroyed it. 


June 13, The Hague 

Vreedensconjerentie [Peace Conference]. 

If I were fresher in the movement, these days at The Hague 
would surely furnish me a good deal of material for my diary. But 
I have grown weary, blas£, through all the struggles and adven- 
tures. 

This explains why people who do and experience many remarka- 
ble things seldom write anything remarkable. 

I have come here because Suttner is here and may be able to put 
me in touch with the Czar’s people. 

The very first evening she introduced me to the Russian Coun- 
cillor-of-State Bloch, the man who put the idea of a Peace Confer- 
ence into the Czar s head. An intelligent, educated, old trading 
Jew. He interested me— and apparently I, him. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 843 

He asked me to put into more poetic form a parable he was 
going to use in his address. I did so. Then he thought my work too 
poetic. He couldn’t pass it off as his own: he wasn’t a writer. 


Yesterday I was interviewed by Mr. Stead, the English yellow- 
joumalist. 


# * * 


In the evening, dinner at Suttner’s with L£on Bourgeois and 
others. 

Bourgeois made, if anything, an unpleasant impression. Poseur 
et phraseur sans distinction [charlatan and phrase-maker without 
distinction], a faithless radical with unctuous manners, a freethink- 
er’s popishness. Toward the end of the dinner I heard Frau Suttner 
talking to him about Zionism. He agreed with her and said he liked 
the idea. But I deliberately refrained from listening more closely, 
not wanting to open a discussion at this table. 

After dinner, in the salon, Suttner produced a recording ma- 
chine, into which everyone was to speak, as a souvenir. Bourgeois 
spoke some twaddle, the Italian attach^ said something silly; the 
French ambassador, whose name I don’t know, was embarrassed. 
Fortunately it turned out that the machine didn’t work. I poked 
fun at it: “J’allais dire cette pensee mediocre ‘Le phonographe nous 
inspire la crainte utile de la posterity [I was going to make this un- 
distinguished observation: The phonograph inspires us with a 
salutary fear of posterity].” 

Bourgeois said: “Fous pourriez dire la meme chose du photo- 
graphe [You could say the same thing about a photograph].” 

I rejoined: “ De tout ce qui nous fixe [About everything that fixes 
us].” 


* * # 

Then we all went to the concert at the Casino. There was, at any 
rate, something curious about seeing the representatives of all 


844 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

civilized nations, and those who would like to become so, all 
dressed up and listening to music. 

June 16, Scheveningen 

Put in a few hours’ work yesterday for State-Councillor Bloch 
a peculiar human specimen. Energetic as if he were not 65 but 35 
years old, crafty and good-natured, selfless and ambitious. We like 
each other. 

* * # 

Another curious old man usually shows up at meals: Tachard, 
an ancien ambassadeur de France [former French ambassador] of 
the Second Empire — vantard, bon enfant, grognard de la paix 
[braggart, regular fellow, grumbler about the peace], a mordant 
wit but a splendid fellow. 


# * * 

Talked at length with Bloch after lunch today. He told me the 
story of the Czar’s manifesto. The Czar had told him that the 
original suggestion came from the Emperor of Austria. Later the 
German Kaiser wanted to take the peace idea for his and launch it 
in Palestine. Whereupon the Russians decided to beat him to it, be- 
cause the Czar’s authority was still too recent to permit him to tag 
along. The Russian people couldn’t have been won to the idea if 
the Czar had accepted it as a follower of the Kaiser. 

And today there is before the Conference a declaration by the 
German delegate, Zorn, to the effect that the Court of Arbitration 
is contrary to the sovereign rights of monarchs and the independ- 
ence of nations. 

I said that two blocs would form then: Etats de l’ arbitrage [Arbi- 
tration States] and Outlaw* States. Isn’t this a specter that I ought 
to bring to the attention of the German Kaiser, via the Grand 
Duke? 


# In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 845 

Bloch warmly encouraged me to do this. 

* * # 

Letter to the Grand Duke: 

Your Royal Highness: 

Our good Mr. Hechler wrote me that Your Royal Highness 
would be gracious enough to receive me again when I pass through, 
in order to receive my reports about more recent developments in 
the Zionist movement. 

Unfortunately Mr. Hechler’s information did not reach me at 
Nauheim, but only here. May I therefore request your kind per- 
mission to present myself at Baden-Baden after my return from 
London at the beginning of July. After all the kindness that Your 
Royal Highness and His Majesty have shown me I consider it my 
duty to mention something quite timely today as well. Through 
a number of friends I have had the opportunity here to find out 
various things. The prevailing opinion throughout the Peace Con- 
ference is hostile to Germany. The German delegate Zorn’s decla- 
rations against the Court of Arbitration, which are regarded as 
much too harsh, have given rise to an idea which I would like to 
bring to the attention of Y.R.H. before it is thrown open to public 
discussion. The idea has emerged to bring about agreement on the 
principle of a Court of Arbitration if need be even without Ger- 
many and other opponents. 

Then there would be Etats de V arbitrage , and others — a kind of 
outlaws* under international law. The danger to Germany would 
be the formation of a confederation, on an idealistic basis of justice 
and without emphasis on any specific point at issue, possibly cut- 
ting across the existing alliances, which would suddenly leave Ger- 
many outside, as happened to Austria at the time of the Germanic 
Confederation. And precisely because there is no specific demand 
or point of contention, Germany would have no real way of oppos- 
ing it. 

I hope it is a case of reckoning without one’s host, and I would 

• In English in the original. 


846 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

be happy if my modest information contributed to the timely 
averting of a danger to Germany. 

The day after tomorrow I go to Paris from here. Only if Y.R.H. 
or H.I.M. should desire a further report about what I have men- 
tioned above would I stay here a day longer. In that case, may I re- 
quest your telegraphic instructions. 

I also take the liberty of giving you my London address. Begin- 
ning the 25th of this month, it will be Hotel Cecil, London. 

Begging Y.R.H. to accept the expression of my profoundest re- 
spect, I remain 


Gratefully yours, 
Dr. Th. H. 


June 17. 

On the train from The Hague to Brussels. 

Tachard, who left Scheveningen yesterday, told us, among many 
other things, what he had once heard about Bismarck. At one time 
Bismarck is said to have sent 150 waiters to the Riviera to eaves- 
drop on the conversations of the fashionable travelers in the hotels. 

Tachard followed every waiter with comically furious glances, 
saying: “C’est un espion [He’s a spy].” 

* # # 

Yesterday afternoon I spoke to Bloch about Zionism at last. He 
raised no excessive objections. He said he would try to procure an 
audience for me with the Czar, provided that he himself was still 
in favor. 

We walked up and down for a long time on the landward side 
of the Casino. He told me about his audiences with the Czar and 
the Czarina. He described the latter as a forte tete [good mind] and 
grand coeur [great heart]. 

He considers it possible that the Czar will receive me and even 
issue a rescript en faveur [in favor] of Zionism. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 847 

Mais apres [But what then]? 

For the present that would satisfy me, I said. 

* # * 

Yesterday evening Nuri Bey came to see me. We dined in the 
salon adjoining my room. I wanted to talk with him alone, not 
among the Suttner party. Nuri has an unpleasant rogue’s face. The 
conversation at table was downright uncomfortable at first. I 
dragged it along over indifferent matters. Newlinski served as our 
entree en matiere [entry to the subject]. Nuri passed the hardest 
judgment on him, at first in guarded words. “Appelons-le le defunt 
[Let us call him the deceased].” Newlinski, he said, had cheated me, 
had never brought my proposals to the attention of those in au- 
thority, but, on the contrary, had offered to spy on us. Mahmud 
Nedim had gone along with Newl. in everything, parce qu’il cou- 
chait avec sa femme [because he slept with his wife]. 

When the conversation grew more intimate — along about the 
champagne — Nuri said: “Tranchons le mot , c’etait une sale ca- 
naille ce Newlinski [Let’s not mince words: this Newlinski was a 
filthy scum].” 

The conversation got very intimate. When Nuri saw that I was 
hesitating and beating about the bush, he made things easy for me 
and spoke openly, frankly, and cynically. “There are people who 
want to make a buck. I’ll get together a syndicate for you that will 
do the job at Yildiz. The Porte doesn’t count at all. This man must 
get so much, that one so much. I’m on good terms with them all, 
because I always treat everyone correctly. Izzet Bey, for example, 
who is now out of favor, gets the same amicable treatment from me 
as before. I give him the same presents, etc. The man is too intelli- 
gent not to get back into favor again. Then he will be grateful to 
me for it.” 

However, Palestine is going to be difficult. 11 y a des questions 
qu’il ne faut pas attaquer de front , mais en biais. Prenez Halep, 
achetez des terrains autour de Beyrout, et faites apres t&che d’huile. 
Arrivera un moment difficile ou on aura besoin de vos services; 
vous vous presenterez et demanderez la Palestine [There are some 


848 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

things that shouldn’t be attacked head on, but sidewise. Get 
Aleppo, buy land around Beirut, and then spread out. A difficult 
time will come when they will need your services; then you will 
present yourself and demand Palestine]. 

I told him that I couldn’t do that. For the sake of our supporters 
I mustn’t ask for anything but Palestine. 

I required a Chartered Company * He asked: “Can you get the 
German Kaiser to back that proposition? Oui ou non [Yes or no]?” 
I said vigorously: “Oui [Yes]!” 

He replied: “Alors la chose est faite [Then it’s done]. The Kai- 
ser’s recommendation alone, or a syndicate at Yildiz alone, can’t do 
it. But if you have both, it can be done.” 

I: “Within what time?” 

He: “One or two months.” 

I: “Should I go to Constantinople?” 

He: “Yes. I’ll introduce you to Tahsin. He is a friend of mine.” 
He made me various other propositions. Would we care to ac- 
quire real estate in Constantinople on a mortgage basis? Within a 
few years we could own half of Constantinople. 

I rejected the idea, because this was bound to stir up anti-Semi- 
tism. 

Next he offered to buy up the entire public opinion* of Turkey 
for 3-400,000 francs. In short, anything I wanted . . . 

Then we drove to The Hague and were friends. 

When he came in he had called me Monsieur, at table Monsieur 
rdocteur, over the Rhine wine Monsieur Herzl, over the cham- 
pagne Monsieur de Herzl, and over the cheese, cher ami [dear 
friend]. 

Aventure facile [Easy adventure] ! 


Paris, June 19, Hotel Castille 

Out of piety I still stop at the old place where I wrote the Jewish 
State, four years ago now. What a road since then! And what weari- 
• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 849 

ness. My heart is badly strained. I suffer from palpitations and an 
irregular pulse. 

# * # 

Supplement to Scheveningen. 

On the morning of my departure (two days ago) Bloch came to 
my room and begged me to stay on, because the German delegate 
Zorn had been called back to Berlin, perhaps in consequence of my 
letter. But I didn’t want to stay any longer, although he called my 
attention to the historic significance of the occasion. J’avais produit 
mon petit effet [I had had my little effect] and didn’t wish to be 
waiting in vain for a wire from the Grand Duke. I thought it quite 
unlikely that the Grand Duke would answer me. 

In the course of this final talk Bloch asked me to make a brief ex- 
tract from my letter to the Grand Duke. He copied this extract, 
which I am pasting in below, and gave it to Ambassador Staal, who 
telegraphed it to the Czar, in St. Petersburg. 

Bloch took this occasion to tell me the following anecdote about 
the Czar. 

When the German Kaiser had a comparative chart of the Naval 
Powers made at the Navy’s request, Bloch studied this graphic 
presentation, which seemed incorrect to him, and actually dis- 
covered that the scale used for the Russian ships was different from 
the correct one. During his next conversation with the Czar he 
drew the latter’s attention to it. Whereupon the Czar said: 

“That’s quite like him (the German Kaiser).” 

* * # 

Presentation which Bloch gave to Staal: 

I have associated here with the Viennese writer Dr. Theodor 
Herzl, who in recent years has made a name for himself particularly 
as the leader of the Zionist movement. When I told him about the 
difficulties being raised on the part of Germany, he wrote a letter to 
the Grand Duke of Baden the day before yesterday, for the sake of 
the good cause, and gave me its substance. 

Inasmuch as Dr. Herzl has for years enjoyed the confidence of the 
Grand Duke of Baden and has also repeatedly been received in con- 



850 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

fidence by the German Kaiser, his words, which were intended for 
immediate transmission to the German Kaiser, will probably not 
remain without effect. 

Dr. H. wrote approximately the following: 

He is of the opinion that the prevailing sentiment at the Peace 
Conference is not exactly favorable to Germany. Zorn’s declara- 
tions in opposition to the Court of Arbitration have been regarded 
as much too harsh. The idea has arisen of bringing about agree- 
ment on the principle of the Court of Arbitration even without 
Germany and other opponents, if need be. Then there would be 
Etats de l’ arbitrage and others. The danger for Germany would be 
that on an ideal foundation of justice, without stressing any specific 
controversial matter, a confederation would be formed, possibly 
cutting across the present alliances, and that Germany would sud- 
denly stand outside it alone, as Austria once did in the case of the 
Germanic Confederation. And precisely because there is no posi- 
tive demand or controversy, Germany would have no real weapon 
against it. 

Dr. H. has made these disclosures about his letter to me in com- 
plete confidence. 


June ig, Paris 

Mandelstamm advises me that the Russian Minister of Finance, 
Witte, has ordered the censors not to let the leaflets of the J.C.T. 
enter any longer. I am to intervene via Bloch. Thereupon I wrote 
Bloch the following: 


Paris, June 19 

Strictly confidential! 

Your Excellency: 

It will be well if you keep me au courant [informed] regarding 
your address from now till the beginning of July, since I shall prob- 
ably be with Uncle between the 2nd and the 4th of July and might 
be able to arrange a number of things there. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 851 

I have a request to make today. I have been informed that Witte 
is not very favorably disposed toward the Zionist Bank which is in 
process of formation (it is called The Jewish Colonial Trust [Jew- 
ish Colonial Bank], London). Please write him a few words of ex- 
planation, saying that it is a matter of a perfectly loyal enterprise, 
one designed to carry out the surely praiseworthy tasks of Jewish 
colonization. Therefore he should put no obstacles in the path of 
the subscription in Russia, but only maintain a benevolent inac- 
tivity. I don’t require any support or money from him. I probably 
don’t need to tell you that I have no personal and material interests 
whatever in this Bank. I am not even on the Board of Directors, but 
only on the Council, honoris causa [as an honorary member]. 

Always ready to perform services in return and with the kindest 
regards, I am 

Your Excellency’s obedient servant, 
Th.H. 


June 21, Paris 

Yesterday morning I went down the old rue Cambon to the 
Tuileries gardens, where there is an Automobile Exposition now. 
Automobiles are as though made for us. We shall have cement 
roads, fewer railroads, and right from the start institute new forms 
of traffic. 

When, with such thoughts, I left the Exposition and got out into 
the gardens, I suddenly found myself in the square bordered with 
mythological statues where, at exactly this season four years ago, I 
conceived the Jewish State* while walking. And as though awak- 
ened by the genius loci [spirit of the place], plans of social reform 
again popped into my mind, which has since become more slug- 
gish. 

At the exhibition I saw the American “Cleveland Car " the best 
automobile available. The French cars are too complicated to op- 
erate. The Cleveland Car seems to be the last word as of today. It 

• In English in the original. 


852 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

operates on storage batteries which, it is true, have to be recharged 
every too kilometers. Relays of electric power, as once there were 
relays of post-horses. Still, practical even today, provided there are 
enough recharging stations in the area one drives in. A cooperative 
society of such car owners could provide for the stations, in the ab- 
sence of individual enterprise. 

This gave me a further idea, that of developing mutualism * (the 
word occurred to me while I was writing; yesterday in the Tuil- 
eries I searched for it in vain to express the idea which was clear in 
my mind) in all areas. Mutualism* strikes me as the middle road 
between capitalism and collectivism. Producers’ and consumers’ 
cooperatives are only beginnings, suggestions of the mutual* prin- 
ciple. I already had it in mind in Vienna, at the founding of the 
newspaper: subscribers and advertisers as co-publishers of the 
mass-circulation paper. 

I presume that the American insurance companies are also based 
on this principle. I will make a study of mutual* companies. 


June 21 

Went yesterday afternoon with Nordau and Marmorek to see 
Narcisse Leven, the president of the Alliance Israelite and the 
I.C.A. We had previously agreed on what was to be brought up; 
Nordau also edited the written note we were going to leave. But 
then I thought that this wouldn’t be the right thing to do, and it 
was decided that Alex Marmorek should afterwards make a proto- 
col which we would send to Leven. 

Leven received us in his slippers, old floppy house shoes, and 
Nordau, who sat next to him, later assured us that Mr. President’s 
feet had not been free from odor. The conversation zero. Leven 
yielded on everything. The I.C.A. would go with us once we had 
achieved the Charter.” We must not make reference to the I.C.A.; 
but as soon as we have the “Charter,” they will be with us. 

# In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 853 

Alex Marmorek will make a record of this dreary, unresisting 
conversation for reference and send it to the A.C. 


July 4, Bad Nauheim 


I am back from London. 

Now at last the Bank is ready. 

I arrived in London with Wolffsohn on the evening of the 25th. 
In the Hotel Cecil, DeHaas and two other gentlemen from the 
Federation* were waiting for me. They wanted to translate my 
speech, which I hadn’t finished yet. I worked on it until 12:30 mid- 
night and sent it down to them page by page. 

The next morning I drove to the Bank Office with Wolffsohn. 
Then to St. Martin’s Town Hall for a conference of the English 
Zionist Federation. I spoke in support of the Federation, which is 
being fought by the Russian element in the East End. I told Bent- 
wich that we must proceed with the allotment* on Thursday, July 
29, no matter what. He made all sorts of objections, but still I car- 
ried my point. By now the difficulties have been overcome and are 
therefore forgotten. They loomed large on J une 27. 

At one point Bentwich, who for reasons incomprehensible to me 
is slipping batons dans les roues [a spoke in the wheel], demanded 
the approval of all out-of-town directors for an amendment to a 
resolution on which he was making the allotment* dependent. By 
this he obviously intended to delay the matter, during which time 
I would have to leave. I beat this down with long telegrams which 
cost £17., and the next morning everyone’s consent to the allot- 
ment* was on hand. In London cash dowm-payments in the amount 
of £57,000 had been made for over 250,000 shares (the minimum), 
but only 228,000 shares had been registered. I ordered full steam 
ahead in the office. On the morning of the 29th we proceeded with 
the allotment*, with 240,000 registered shares. Meanwhile, by five 
o’clock that afternoon the missing ones were registered, and the 

• In English in the original. 


854 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

very same evening I had that fact certified by Auditor Jackson. The 
allotment* was made on the basis of our material conviction that at 
least 250,000 shares had been subscribed. The registration of the 
shares that had come in by mail in the meantime, a task completed 
by evening, cut the ground from under the feet of any subsequent 
slander, which we may count on with certainty. 

Heymann, the South African, who had rendered us good service 
as a director in the preliminary work on the Bank, handed in his 
resignation. 

Gaster and Bentwich having made things unbearable for him, 
Gaster and Bentwich want to seize control of the Bank for them- 
selves. I urged Heymann to stay, but after much back-and-forth he 
finally did stick to his decision. 

Gaster proposed another director, who is loyal to him, to take 
Heymann’s place. Him I rejected. Now we have no director in 
London, nor a manager. Our worries grow. 

As trustees Wolffsohn and Kann nominated myself, Nordau, 
and Mandelstamm. At this proposal Bentwich declared he would 
have to withdraw — Bentwich, whom I made the Solicitor of the 
Bank because he was a Zionist. The Gaster-Bentwich faction wants 
Gaster or Montefiore as a trustee, because the opposition of one 
single trustee blocks any action. However, after the experience we 
had with Gaster on that first power of attorney we have grown 
cautious. 

Today Kann informs me from The Hague that he has spoken 
with Nuri. His reply to the proposal that the “Alphabet” partici- 
pate in the syndicate was something like this: “Un tiens vaut 
deux fois un tu I’auras [A bird in the hand is worth two in the 
bush].” 

Money talks,” in other words. I must try to get Nuri round. 
Kann does not seem to suffice for the job. 

In London I received a wire from the Grand Duke: “Thanks for 
Scheveningen letter; matter has made progress in meantime. Shall 
not be here the next four weeks. Friedrich.” 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 855 

So I shall not visit him until after the Congress. 

# * # 

A wire from Bloch also. He will try to intervene (regarding the 
release of the Bank subscription in Russia). 


J uly 23, Reichenau 

Yesterday I wrote the following letter from Vienna to Minister 
of State Biilow, who is currently spending his vacation on the 
Semmering: 

Your Excellency: 

Tomorrow, Sunday, I shall be in Reichenau near Payerbach, 
in the vicinity of the Semmering. It would be a great distinction 
and joy for me to be received by Your Excellency, of course not as 
an inquiring reporter, but as a Zionist of proven discretion. 

In response to a wire that I might receive at the Hotel Thalhof 
at Reichenau in the morning, I would come out to the Semmering 
at 4:30 p.m. I am permitting myself this exact determination of 
the time not out of immodesty, but also to facilitate the refusal 
of my visit in a way least painful to me. I should like to be able to 
think: Count Biilow did not wish to see me this particular Sunday 
at 4:30. 

With sincere respect, I am 

Your Excellency’s most obedient servant. 
Dr. Th. H. 

This noon the following wire came from him: 

For reasons of health and to my great regret I must forego all 
visits and have a complete rest. Hope to see you another time. 
Kind regards, Biilow. 


July 26, Vienna 

Gaster is mulish because I wish to bridle his lust for power in 
the Bank. In response to my most amiable letters, in which I draw 


856 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

his attention to the consequences of his trouble-making, he irri- 
tably throws his accomplishments up to now in my face and throws 
his "office” at my feet. 

Today I am writing him another (the third) conciliatory letter. 

# # * 

Nordau doesn’t want to come to Basel, because he has to go to 
Rennes for the Dreyfus trial. Am writing him, too, a serious letter, 
saying he must come. 


July 28, Vienna 

Only now do I have a chance to enter the Alphabet which 
Nuri sent me in London through Kann: 

Leurs Excellences [Their Excellencies] 


Hadji Ali Bey 

(a) 

Ilias Bey 

(g) 

Tahsin Bey 

(b) 

Raghib Bey 

(b) 

Izzet Bey 

(c) 

Hadji Mahmud Eff. 

(i) 

Faik Bey 

(d) 

S.A. le Grand Vizir 

G) 

Arif Bey 

(e) 

L.L.E.E. les Ministres 


Kiamil Bey 

(f) 

des Travaux publics 




[Their Excellencies the 



Ministers of Public 




Works] 

00 


August 6, Vienna 

The chief tenet of my life: 

Whoever wishes to change men must change the conditions 
under which they live. 


# # # 

My testament for the Jewish people: 

Make your State in such a way that the stranger will feel com- 
fortable among you. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 857 
August 1 1, on the Orient Express, beyond Munich 

Before my departure from Vienna there was a row with Bacher. 

I had written a feuilleton for the Sunday paper ("The Auto- 
mobile”) and had done a good job, so as to have a good exit for a 
leave of absence. On Monday, after the evening paper had been 
put to bed, I told him that I now wanted to go on leave. I thought 
it was an oversight that to date he had not made out the train 
ticket to Buchs which had been lying on his desk for three days. 
However, it was no accident. Through the shabby expedient of 
denying me the ticket he wanted to keep me there longer. He said: 
“Now, before the Goethe number, you want to leave me alone? 
And how long do you wish to stay away? 

I: "Until the beginning of September.” 

He (gruffly): "That can’t be done.” 

I: "All right, then I’ll be back on the 24th of August.” 

He went out without saying good-bye. I left him the key to the 
feuilleton desk with a brief, dry note. 

To this day I am in this humiliating position of having to ask for 
leave like an office boy. 

But things came to an even prettier pass. The day before my 
departure the Neue Freie Presse carried in its “Foreign News” 
section an item taken from German papers according to which the 
Grand Duke of Baden “expressed himself very skeptically about 
the Zionist movement” to the Jewish scholar Dr. Berliner at St. 
Moritz. 

The opposite is true. The Grand Duke’s statement, which was 
very friendly to me even according to the Jewish Chronicle (it is 
contained in today’s Welt), was printed in falsified form by the lie 
sheets Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums and Jiidische Presse , 
and made its way from these infamous sheets into the general press. 
The Neue Freie Presse took it up with delight. This is the reward 
I get for many good services. 

* # * 

I had sent Hechler to the Grand Duke of Hesse in order to 
request an audience for me. I will ask the Grand Duke of Hesse to 


858 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

procure an audience for me with the Czar, his brother-in-law, when 
the latter visits him at Darmstadt soon. 

# # * 

More than with my still unfinished Congress speech and with 
the princes and my slave drivers at the Neue Freie Presse I have 
been occupied all these days with the plan of my new play Die 
siindige Mutter [The Sinful Mother], the thought of which 
delights me. 


August 1 2 , on the train, approaching Basel 

After complicated train changes I arrived in Heidelberg at mid- 
night yesterday and, this morning, sleepy, at Darmstadt, where the 
good Hechler was already waiting nervously. He had feared that 
I would not arrive in time. We had an appointment at the palace 
between nine and twelve, i.e., the time of the general audiences. 

I tried to catch a short half hour’s sleep, finally bathed the sleep 
out of my bones, dressed (not swallow-tails, however, but only the 
Prince Albert), and then we drove to the palace, which is patri- 
archally situated at the vegetable market. Or, the vegetable market 
is intimately near the palace. 

One gets accustomed to audiences, too. The coolly courteous 
adjutant, whose friendliness is artfully disobliging; the guards at 
every door and gate; the important lackeys; the officers waiting for 
those minutes of the audience, all slicked up, and decoration- 
studded public-school teachers in the ante-chamber — all these no 
longer impressed me. I unabashedly studied their transparent 
decorated souls, enjoyed the pretty rococo paneling over the doors, 
and looked out at the castle courtyard. 

We had been waiting for a half-hour — the thirteen of us — when 

the Chief Adjutant went out, apparently to submit a list of those 
present. 

He had previously jotted down our names in a notebook. The 
order is determined by the Grand Duke. Most of the audiences last 
only seconds. Hechler and I did not come until toward the end, so 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 859 
we were able to watch the entrances and exits of those distin- 
guished men. 

Finally the adjutant called out: “The two gentlemen! 

We passed through the second reception salon and entered a 
third salon, at the last window of which a young officer was sitting 
at a desk. He got up, walked toward Hechler, and spoke to him in 

English — the Grand Duke of Hesse. 

He gave me a friendly handshake and was “glad to make your 

acquaintance.” 

He stood in the middle of the salon, his hands nonchalantly on 
his hips and gently swaying with his thighs, as though he were 
about to make a short assaut [leap]. 

After the introduction I said to him: “I don’t know to what 
extent Your Royal Highness is informed about our movement.” 

He smiled: “All I know about it is what Mr. Hechler has told 
me.” 

Accordingly I let loose and gave him the main things in brief 
outline. 

He amiably agreed with everything I said. II abondait dans mons 
sens [he agreed with me] in the court manner. While he spoke I 
kept my eyes on him — in fact, I kept looking him full in the face. 
He is a good-looking, blond, slim, well-nourished, well-colored man 
in his early thirties. He strongly resembles his sister, the Czarina, 
according to her pictures. He is cross-eyed. 

Nevertheless, the total impression is very pleasant and friendly. 

Since he agreed with most things, the conversation ran quite 
smoothly. Regarding anti-Semitism he remarked that it seemed to 
be petering out, stopping. 

He recommended a “newspaper war,” if one could call it that. 

Every week things ought to break somewhere else — one week in 
England, the next time in America, then in Germany. Every mo- 
ment people should be reminded of the matter through the news- 
papers. 

I thanked him for this really not bad advice. He asked: “But 
how do you propose to git (get)* the land?” 

•Translator’s Note: Kriechen (Kriegeri), in the Frankfurt dialect. 



860 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

“In the form of a Chartered Company * I said. 

Then I begged him to recommend the cause to the Czar, who 
was going to visit him. 

He nodded: “Yes, he can be interested in things like that. I will 
do it.” 

After that we spoke about this and that for a little while. He 
showed himself not very well informed about the geography of 
Palestine, for when I spoke about the Mediterranean-Persian 
Gulf railroad, he said: “Well, not much is known about Arabia at 
all.” I think he confused Syria with Arabia, but, court-like, 1 
accepted this princely geography. 

He dismissed me amiably after we had run out of things to talk 
about. 


August 13, Basel 

The faithful assembled at the Hotel Trois Rois. Wolffsohn, the 
Gottheils from New York, etc. 


August 1 3, Basel 

T elegram to the Sultan. * * 

To His Excellency Munir Pasha, Grand Master of Ceremonies 
to H.I.M. the Sultan, Yildiz, Constantinople. 

The Zionists assembled in Congress at Basel consider it their 
first duty to place at the foot of H.I.M. the Sultan’s throne the 
avowal of their respectful devotion and their deep appreciation of 
the kindness which His Majesty has always shown his Jewish sub- 
jects. It is the desire of the Zionists to succor their unfortunate 
brethren in various countries of Europe and to contribute to the 
greatness and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire. 

They sincerely hope that the loyalty of these aims will be ap- 
preciated and encouraged by the Caliph’s exalted wisdom. 

• In English in the original. 

••In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 861 

I bee Your Excellency to be kind enough to convey these senti- 
ments and sincere wishes to His Imperial Majesty the Sultan. 

Dr. Theodor Herzl, 
President of the Zionist Congress. 


August 17, Basel 


The Third Congress 1 

My impressions: On the first day I was bored stiff in my presi- 
dential chair, on the second I was irritated. 

Gaster came here and agitated against me in the corridors and 
on the committees, saying that we two had reached a parting of the 
ways! 

A sort of court of arbitration was set up to which he submitted 
his grievances against me. I replied, demonstrated that he was in 
the wrong, and we shook hands. 

He was so little placated that he stirred up feeling against me 
in an obscure way, especially when he was in the chair. 

Greenberg spoke in English in opposition to the A.C. Gaster 
translated his attacks with voluptuous delight. But when the chair- 
man of the Finance Committee, likewise speaking in English, re- 
commended absolutism, Gaster forgot to state in his translation 
that the committee was perfectly satisfied. 

Bentwich demanded more detailed financial statements. This 
aroused a confidence crisis, in the course of which Gaster suddenly 
deserted Mr. Bentwich and spoke theatrically in my favor, some- 
thing that could only harm me with people of taste. 

Then we sat up until 2 o’clock in the morning over the Bank 
affair. The deliberations took on the character of a respectable 
drowsiness, as in a real parliament. 

I couldn’t sleep later than 6 o’clock. Then the morning idea 
occurred to me to announce at the beginning of today’s session the 
details which Bentwich had demanded and the Congress had 
denied, for otherwise there would be agitation against me on this 
score all year. 


862 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

August i8, Basel 

The third day was somewhat more interesting. Toward noon 
I established a precedent by asking for a vote of confidence so that 
the Congress would not run too smoothly. Swift’s A Tale of a Tub 
While I was threatening to resign if the Congress did not approve 
the founder shares which I had promised to the seven founders ol 
the Bank, I remembered the tunnel at Baden which the builders 
of the Siidbahn [Southern Railroad] had also constructed in the 
middle of a plain, so that the Viennese might see what a tunnel was. 

# # # 

Yesterday Gaster made a “cultural address” which was more like 
a theological beerhall rant. Le bois creux des guitares [the hollow 
wood of guitars]. 

# # # 

In the evening the general meeting of the Colonial Trust, a 
parade. A statistical presentation, that is to say, a presentation of 
facts and figures by figure-heads.* But very effective. 


August 21, returning from Basel 

On the train, beyond Salzburg. 

The Congress has gone off smoothly. A good atmosphere has 
once more been achieved — which again will gradually peter out. 
This time, as a matter of fact, the continuation of our work will be 
facilitated by a confidential loan on the forthcoming shekel pay- 
ments. Good old Schalit of Riga, Barbasch, Dr. Katzenelsohn, and 
Sachs each promised 5000 guilders — and want to go on collecting, 
so that I can take steps in Turkey and promise Nuri immediate 
baksheesh. 

* * * 

By the fourth day I was very tired. I had told Gaster that I would 
take him to the station in the evening. But when I told him at ten 

Herzl s pun is based on the similarity between statistisch 
( statistical ^ and Statistcn (“supernumeraries/' “extras"). 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 863 

o’clock in the hotel that I was tired, he looked so insulted that I 
quickly added that I would go with him anyway; and I did. All 
popes want to have their slippers kissed. 

* * * 

And having tasted the feeling of freedom and been a lord for 
one week, I must return again to my vile servitude at the Neue 
Freie Ptesse where I am not allowed to have an opinion of my own. 
It is a question of a measly few thousand guilders which I, being the 
head of a family, must not give up. 


August 23, Unterach 

On the morning of the day before yesterday I wrote a letter-card 
to Nuri Bey from Salzburg, asking him to advise me how long he 
was staying at Karlsbad, because I had to tell him something in 
connection with the “chose immediate [pressing matter]” for him 
which Kann-The Hague had told me about in Basel. I asked him 
to sign his reply “Charles.” 

Thereupon the following wire came from Karlsbad yesterday; 

“Resterai ici jusqu’au 27 courant [Staying here till 27th inst.] 
Charles.” 


* * * 

I am now writing to Nuri:* 


August 23, 99 

Your Excellency: 

I am on my way back to Vienna. Here, in two words, is the story. 
To begin with, I shall send you twenty thousand francs the day 
I am received by H.M. the Sultan in order to present the Zionist 
plan to him. Of course, it is not for his consent that I am offering 
you this small first token of my friendship. Only an audience in 

• In French in the original. 


864 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

which I could explain to him all the good, all the benefits, that w e 
can and will bring to Turkey in exchange for the Charter. 

I shall expect you in Vienna in order to reach an understanding 
with you on the other things for you and your friends in case the 
matter is concluded. 

Kindly notify me of your arrival in Vienna at my private address 
Carl-Ludwigstrasse 50, Wahring. It would be useful for you to do 
me the honor of coming to my house. At a hotel or at the railroad 
station one is seen, and the less is known of our relationship, the 
more we shall be able to work as we please. 

With my sincere respect, 
Th.H. 

August 24, Vienna 

“ J’ai connu la grande blessure de I'argent [I have known the 
gTeat injury of money],” said Henry Becque. 

Je la connais aussi [I know it too]. My work would appear much 
more miraculous if people knew with what financial worries I have 
to contend, as the result of the money I have spent on Zionism. 

I miss everywhere the more than 50,000 guilders which I have 
put into it, and that makes me even more restricted in my relations 
with the Neue Freie Presse than I was before. I have to tremble 
lest I be dismissed; I cannot dare to take the leave my health 
requires, for I have already been away for six weeks, although 
I spent all that time in the service of Zionism. 

Today, then, I return to the office once more, after having been 
a free man and a great lord at Basel, and have to enter the room of 
Big Boss Bacher like a meek little office boy. 

Cruel I 


August 24 

Once again went to the office ‘‘ready to do battle.” Again saw 
t e grinning faces of those who refuse to believe in it. But their 
grins have become older and, it seems to me, more dispirited. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 865 

Bacher greeted me comme si de rien n’etait [as if nothing had 
happened], as if he hadn’t poisoned the last two weeks for me. He 
spoke about the Congress with patronizing irony. “But now you 
really ought to free yourself of the thing soon.” 

I: ‘‘I wouldn’t dream of it. Why should I?” 

‘‘Because there’ll be a stink about the Bank.” 

“This Bank,” I said, “is cleaner than the ones we are accustomed 
to seeing and reading friendly write-ups about in the newspapers. 
Its founders enjoy no benefits, as they do, for instance, at the 
Kreditanstalt.” 

He pulled in his horns a bit. Then some people came in and we 
broke off. 

Earlier Reichsritter von Vincenti had tried a little mockery. 
But I got him onto the subject of the position of the editors vis-i-vis 
the publishers of the Neue Freie Presse , an outfit that truly is 
crazier and lower than Zionism. Thereupon Vincenti, casting a 
shy glance at the publishers’ door, flew into a fit of rage against 
Benedikt, whom he hates and despises and whose filthy bread he 
has to eat. I forgave the poor Ritter for his mockery. I enjoyed his 
impotent outburst of rage, for he is a character in my drama about 
modem slavery, Der Herr [The Master]. This drama shows how 
such pebbles are ground up into sand. 


August 28, Vienna 

Last night I went to “Venice-in-Vienna,” the Trianon Restau- 
rant, because if N uri Bey had arrived in Vienna he would certainly 
have to be there. He had not written me. 

Sure enough, he was there in the company of the grotesque 
Turkish Consul-General Dirsztay, for whom, as Newlinski had 
told me, he had procured, moyennant finances [through money], 
title and decoration. I spoke to Dirsztay; Nuri looked embarrassed 
and acted aloof. 

This morning I wrote him that I should like to talk to him, at 
his hotel or at my place. He sent me word through Schmidt, my 
gardener, that I should come to the Hotel Imperial at 4 o’clock. 


866 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

August 28 

Hechler is going to Marienbad this evening, to see the Prince of 
Wales and induce him to receive me. 


August 29, Vienna 


Yesterday I went to see Nuri Bey at the Hotel Imperial. He was 
in his shirt-sleeves, kneeling before his trunk and packing it pre- 
paratory to leaving for the Semmering. 

At first he was cool and distant, as though he had no idea of why 
I had come. 


I had soon guessed that 20,000 francs weren’t enough for him. 
He said: “Considering your position in the Zionist movement, 
your audience would certainly not be something of no account! 
As a matter of fact, any banker would give me twice what you have 
promised in return for an audience with the Sultan.” 

“Qu’d cela ne tienne [Let it go at that],” I said. “You shall have 
40,000.” 


At that he began to get more human. The matter was not so easy, 
he said. An agent would have to be secured to work up sentiment 
for our plan in Turkish circles. He would give me the name of 
such a person. It was a certain Eduard Crespi, his own confidential 
agent who was also employed by various high officials for collect- 
ing ons [bills]. I saw what he was: some opportunist rascal who, 
when necessary, can be repudiated or put out of the way. 

You ought to give Crespi ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand francs 
to wor up a favorable attitude in the Servet and elsewhere. If you 
spo e to me, in my capacity as an official, about straightening out 
our nances, I would reply: I didn’t send for you; our alleged 
embarrasments are none of your business.’ But I am speaking to 
y uasa ien and I tell you: You have to sow before you can reap.” 

almoT “ r* driving at - Mone y taIk *- So I said to him, 

on fh T 7u 1 Sha11 y ° U 10,000 ^cs in advance and 30,000 
on the day of the audience. What use you make of the money is your 
business. I won’t ask you what you do with it.” 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 867 

He melted like butter and said: “Done! I shall have to add to 
it out of my own pocket, but the gamble is worth it. I think I can 
make a couple of millions on it; a man will risk a little on that.” 

I acted as though I believed all he said. Now he began to boast 
about all the things he could do. He said he was a jurist and a civil 
engineer; he could set up any sort of factory; he could write to 
order a newspaper article columns long, on any subject, in French 
or Turkish. If I wished, he would sit right down and write a few 
columns about the importance of the safety-match to the Austrian 
national economy. He had routes of access to the Sultan that no one 
else had; he could obtain anything and everything by devious 
means — “par des moyens perfides [by treachery],” as he himself 
put it. Through women and favorites. He would explain to the 
Sultan how he could achieve his heart’s desire: a new fleet, 25 
armored cruisers at once, as well as 2000 Krupp cannon and the 
coastal fortification of Constantinople. “ Laissez-moi faire [Let me 
do it!]!” He boasted up a storm, like a sharper bragging about his 
stratagems. 

Finally he got down to cases: 

“I am going up to the Semmering now. I’ll be back on Saturday. 
Have 10,000 francs ready for me. But they must be paid to me in 
cash, without witnesses or a receipt.” 

I said I would have the money sent to him through my lawyer, 
Dr. Kokesch. He made a show of reluctance, but in the end con- 
sented. We parted friends! 

A detail: he wouldn’t write down Crespi’s name with his own 
hand, but merely dictated it to me. 

* # * 

Naturally I am not going through with paying the 10,000 francs 
without a receipt. 

I shall pretend that Kokesch refused and say that he would either 
have to sign a regu pour frais de presse [receipt for press expenses] 
or accept a check made out to Crespi. 


868 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Now our worry is how to get these 10,000 francs. We immediately 
wired the underwriters of the outstanding debt: Schalit, Barbasch, 
Katzenelsohn, Sachs. 

The trusty Schalit was the first to answer, saying he had already 
sent off his 5000. 

# # * 

Hechler telegraphs from Marienbad that the Prince of Wales is 
not in today. 


August 30, Vienna 

I forgot to enter the following from my talk with Nuri: 

When, marche conclu [the bargain concluded], he began to 
brag he told me that he, too, had advised the Sultan to engage in 
the Greek War in order to divert attention from the Armenian 
question. 

He had made an exact calculation of the relative strength of 
Greece and Turkey and had then counselled war. And this is what 
they call high politics! Pour rompre les chiens d’Armenie on fait 
des massacres en Grece [To break the Armenian dogs, they mas- 
sacre the Greeks]. Our present-day civilization takes its hat off 
before the organized bloodshed of war — more correctly: it salutes. 

# # * 

Today I received a wonderful letter from Nuri on the Semmer- 
ing. It is a half sheet of note-paper, with the following lines in a 
disguised hand resembling print: 

M. Charles est d’avis, apres mures reflexions et calculs, qu’il 
vaux mieux, si on accepte conseil amical, porter premier chiffre 
a 15,000 — quitte a deduire les cinqs des trentes milles ulterieure- 
ment payables. (Orthography of the original.) [Mr. Charles is of 
the opinion, after mature reflection and calculations, that it would 
be better, if one accepts his friendly advice, to raise the initial pay- 
ment to 15,000 — the extra five thousand to be deducted from the 
thirty thousand due later.] 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 869 

Enclosed was his visiting card: Nuri Bey, Secretaire general du 
Ministere des Affaires ttrangires [Secretary General of the Mims- 
try of Foreign Affairs] . 

The bottom of the right-hand comer of the card has been tume 
down and smoothed out again. I think this was intended to make it 
appear as though it had been taken from some tray of visiting 

cards. 

Incidentally, the envelope with his handwriting and the Sem- 
mering postmark also has some documentary value. Will give it 
to Kremenezky for safe-keeping. 


August 30 

While riding out to Wahring today on a jolting bus the title for 
my Zion novel occurred to me: 

Alt-Neuland [Old-Newland]. 

Allusion to the name of the Prague Altneuschul. It will become 
a famous word. 


August 3 1 

Letter which I am giving Kremenezky for Nuri*: 

September 1, ’99 

Your Excellency: 

Mr. Kokesch being unavailable, this is my intimate friend Mr. 
Kremenezky, a man worthy of complete confidence, whom I am 
asking to turn over to you the agreed-upon sum of ten thousand 
francs. My committee has agreed to the promises I made you, al- 
though there had been an earlier decision to give no more advances 
and to wait for a result. In the very interest of our relationship 
I think it well not to reopen this question. The thirty thousand 
will be paid the day of the audience. 

Now another point, on which I hope there will be no difficulty. 
Neither Kokesch nor Kremenezky wants to be responsible for 

• In French in the original. 


870 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

handing over the money without a receipt. They want to be 
covered even as far as I am concerned. It is a scruple which I am 
bound to respect. 

On the other hand, I want to respect your wish, which I under- 
stand perfectly. Please choose then, Your Excellency, between the 
two following procedures. 

Either please be good enough to give my friend a note to this 
effect: Received of Mr. Kremenezky ten thousand francs for press 
expenses (or for an agent or anything else), and signed with your 
name. 

Or in several hours Mr. Kremenezky will give you a check in 
the name of M. Eduard Crespi and drawn on whatever bank you 
wish to designate to him. 

It is up to you which you prefer. In any case, you can be sure of 
the most absolute discretion. We are not people to commit the 
least indelicacy. Furthermore, we hope to work in complete accord 
with you, now and always. This is only a small beginning. 

Please accept the expression of my great esteem and my wishes 
for a good trip and great success. 


Very faithfully yours, 
Dr. Th. H. 


September 2 

Kremenezky is back from Nuri. The latter gave the following 
receipt on his visiting card. (I am reproducing it from memory). 

Refu la somme de dix mille francs qui m’etait due— Nuri [Re- 
ceived the sum of 10,000 francs which was due me]. 

Kremenezky contented himself with that. Nuri declared he 
hoped to achieve good results. 


September 3 

Hechler has returned from Marienbad bredouille [empty- 
an ed]. The Prince of Wales evidently scented that he was a 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 871 

vieux raseur [old windbag], and since His Royal Highness prefers 
the photographs of young Israelite women to those of old Jewish 
walls, Hechler was not even admitted by the adjutant. 

# * * 

Received a good, friend’s letter from Col. Goldsmid today. 


September 4, Vienna 


After the opera yesterday, supped with Martin Fiirth at the 
Hotel Bristol. He told me he had been to the races with Nuri Bey 
that afternoon. The latter had spoken very favorably about Zion- 
ism: it was not impossible to win the Sultan over to it, as he was a 
friend of the Jews. 

Only, the newspapers must not write that we wish to found an 
“Empire.” 

Nuri was tout ce qu’il y a de plus serieux [could not have been 
more serious]. Did I know him? “Very slightly, I said. 


September 4 

Hechler was here and reported that recently an aristocratic 
English lady had asked Lord Salisbury why he wasn t helping the 
Zionists. He is said to have replied: 

“Wait, it is coming.”* 

Because of this lady I am writing Gaster to take some action with 
Lord Salisbury in association with Sir Francis. 


September 4 

On the curtain at the Opera there is a picture of fighting putti 
[angels] after the victory. The victor is being handed a wreath. 
This is an unwitting allegorical representation of the whole 

* In English in the original. 


872 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

cowardly injustice of the prevailing view of life. The victor gets 
a wreath, on top of everything! As if the vanquished weren’t more 
in need of a lift. 


September 13 , Vienna 

Among the many newspaper clippings which Argus sends the 
following is especially interesting. It is an interview by Madame 
Lera, the wife of some South American diplomat. 

The statements in it made by Nuri Bey are curious. 

News of the Day* 

An Interview with the Apostle of Zionism. 

It is common knowledge that the Zionists are those Jews who 
dream of re-establishing the kingdom of Judea and rebuilding the 
walls of Jerusalem. 

From a practical point of view, many obstacles appear to stand 
in their way. The Turks, no doubt, will not be eager to give up 
Palestine, and if the promoters of Zionism succeed in convincing 
them by persuasive arguments, Christians of every persuasion 
would rise en masse indignantly to oppose an arrangement that 
would put the Holy places in the power of Christ’s executioners. 

The Zionists, for that matter, are not numerous; the great 
majority of the sons of the Widow prefer to build up among the 
infidel nations the strongholds of an imaginary Jerusalem, and it 
is only the mystics attached to tradition and believing in the Mes- 
sianic future who wish to lead their people back to the Promised 
Land. 

It is no less interesting to follow a movement which aims at 
reuniting the dispersed Jews, at pitching a tent for the wandering 
Hocks of the encampment of Israel. 

Did the Congress held at Basel at the beginning of this month 
make progress with its plan? We don’t know. One of our corres- 
pondents sends us the account of an interview he had with one of 
# In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 873 

the most devoted apostles of Zionism: M. Herzl. Our correspondent 
limited himself to recording his interlocutor’s arguments just as a 
recording machine would do. It is for our readers to draw their 
own conclusions. 

M. Herzl kindly consented to satisfy my desire to know more 
about Zionism and more than the superficial accounts in the news- 
papers. The day before his departure for The Hague he came and 
spent an hour with me. 

Not being familiar with interviewing, I shall limit myself to 
summarizing as best I can, and very faithfully, the principal ideas 
put forward by M. Herzl. 

“What is Zionism, and what do I want to do? What I have 
been dreaming of for four years and what haunts every hour of my 
life? This is it. I want to give the Jews of all nations a comer of 
the world where they can live in peace, no longer hounded, out- 
cast, and despised. Among us, as always happens, it is the poor who 
are most to be pitied. The others, who can change their place of 
residence as they see fit, who are in contact with the upper classes, 
have to put up with a great deal of damage to their self-esteem and 
with wounded dignity; but you could not believe the extent of 
the poor Jew’s misery in certain countries. I want to offer these 
outcasts a country that will be their own, where, with complete 
freedom and thanks to that freedom, their abilities can be de- 
veloped and at the same time the vices and faults which centuries 
of persecution and ostracism have fostered in them may be shed; 
to rid them in time of that moral scurf; to allow their very real 
intellectual and moral gifts free play, so that finally my people may 
no longer be the dirty Jews, but the people of light that they are 
capable of being. 

“The new Jerusalem that I foresee in my dreams, the revived 
Palestine, rejuvenated and flourishing, that haunts me, appear 
before me in their minutest details, and I see them as the summary, 
the essence, of everything it has taken civilization centuries to 
achieve.” And growing more fervent: “You must realize that the 
origin of countries and cities has always been haphazard, that they 
have grown little by little, have improved by a slow progression, 


874 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

and that even in the most beautiful city, side by side with progress 
and modernity, there is always a more or less considerable trace of 
past ages: old sections, picturesque but unhealthy, where it is often 
difficult to introduce modern improvements. 

“Over there, in that land which seems dead today but which is 
only sleeping, ready, like Jairus’ daughter, to rise from the grave 
and take her place among the living once more, it will be entirely 
different. There is everything to be done? Well, all the better! We 
shall do everything. We shall choose the best sites for our cities; 
to build them we shall use all the resources of modern science; we 
shall make the earth fertile, and our people will learn to cultivate 
that earth; they will learn to exercise their abilities and their gifts 
of perseverance, industry and intelligence in other ways than those 
to which they have been, so to speak, confined up till now. 

“I want to drive the hucksters and the filth that dishonor 
Jerusalem out of that holy city. To clean it up without harming it, 
respecting every stone, and to dedicate it to humanitarian works, 
asylums for the aged and for children, to the products of the mind, 
to everything that would preserve its character of contemplation 
and august grandeur. Only outside its walls would rise the new city, 
modem Jerusalem, dominated and protected by the majesty of the 
old walls.” 

“But,” said I, “as a practical matter, how will you make your 
dream come true?” 

“Ah, that’s it! We need the country first! . . . Will Turkey 
consent to let it go? And yet, what could be more just, more 
natural, than to permit us to establish ourselves in that land which 
is ours, to whose possession no one can contest our moral right! 
And then there are the European powers: another big question 
mark! And lastly my own people. Yes, you would not believe that 
even among the Jews my project has many enemies. Some don’t 
understand it, others don’t want to understand it, still others seek 
to interpret my motives, to see in them the calculations of ambition 
and interest, there where there is an idea which has taken posses- 
sion of me and which I would make triumphant. But no matter; 
I go forward with my dream, in my dream, if you will, and for it. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 875 

It is so dear to me that I have always resisted the desire to give it 
shape by spelling out, in a novel for example, what the future of 

our race may be.” 

M. Herzl said all this in a warm, expressive voice, with vibrant, 
moving words; and as I listened, I recalled that passage in Tancred 
where, speaking of the constancy of the Jews who throughout the 
centuries and in spite of persecution maintain the traditions of 
their race and still celebrate the feasts of Israel, no longer under 
the burning sky of Galilee but in the damp cities of the north, 
Disraeli adds: “A race that persists in celebrating their vintage, 
although they have no fruits to gather, will regain their vine- 
yards.”* 

Several days later I was with some diplomats, among them one 
of the Turkish delegates, His Excellency Nuri Bey, secretary-gen- 
eral of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The talk was about all sorts 
of subjects, among them Zionism; His Excellency s sly smile gave 
me to understand that this would never really be more than a 
dream — at least in this form. To admit the Jews, yes indeed! 
Turkey is vast; she is far from being developed as she should and 
could be; there is room for millions more of inhabitants, and the 
Jews, under the protection of Turkish law, would be safe from all 
persecution in the enjoyment of absolute freedom of conscience. 
But the Holy Places cannot be turned over to them; even the 
laws of Turkey forbid Jewish groups to establish themselves there. 

It would not be acceptable to the Christian nations to see pass 
into the hands of the Jews the sacred soil where Golgotha and the 
Mount of Olives rise. 


M.L. 


September 1 3 

The Anarchist Marcou Baruch shot himself in Florence. This 
obvious madman had pursued me with threatening letters be- 
tween the Second and the Third Congress. I was seriously afraid 

• Translator’s Note: The quotation is from Tancred, London, 1882, p. 388. 


876 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

that he would attempt to assassinate me this time in Basel. Mean 
while, no one protected me. Marcou Baruch stood in front of me 
next to me, and behind me, whenever he pleased. He could have 
plunged his knife in whenever he wanted to. However, I seem to 
have given him the right tamer’s look, for he spoke with me 
bashfully and amiably. That I correctly read the murder in his eyes 
is now proved by his suicide. 

* * # 

On many other occasions, too, madmen come to see me. I am 
haunted by Messiahs of every stripe. The latest thing is a “Jesus 
Christ named Lichtneckert who writes me in an otherwise intel- 
ligent letter that I am Elijah, his Elijah, and wants me to give him 
5000 guilders for the publication of a work that will redeem the 
world. I turned the letter over to my good Hechler, who will call 
on him and calm him down. 

Hechler took the occasion to tell me the following story: “When 
I was in Stockholm, a similar false Jesus Christ appeared in the 
vicinity. He again gathered together his twelve apostles. But when 
Good Friday approached, he saw his apostles tying sticks of wood 
together. He asked them what they were doing. They said: ‘We 
are going to crucify you again now.’ But this was too much for him, 
and he disappeared from that vicinity. 0 


September 25, Vienna 

Bernstein Kohan writes that the I.C.A. Secretary Meyersohn 

m. Rothschild are in Constantinople. He does not know 
what for. 


To spit in our soup, take the wind 
ideas or thwart them? 


out of our sails, exploit our 


any rate, if Edmond Rothschild is in Constantinople, I 
suspect some typically Rothschildian villainy. 

How many times I have offered to withdraw if only they would 

carrv fhic 7 7 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 877 

After all, I am not concerned about getting the charter myself, 
but about the Jews getting it. 

* * * 

Today I am making the following declaration in a secret session 
of the Actions Commi ttee : 

For more than two years I have been defraying the costs of the 
party organ Die Welt out of my own pocket. As party chief I could 
not conduct the enterprise on a business basis and also had to refuse 
the subsidies that were offered to me. However, since the paper 
demanded more and more sacrifices, which exceeded my means, 
and I did not wish to sell it, I decided to let it die after the Third 
Congress. 

I informed several friends of this situation. Mr. Heinrich Rosen- 
baum of Jassy then offered to get together a syndicate for the con- 
tinuation of the Welt in the form of a joint-stock company. I ac- 
cepted this proposal. By making this announcement to the A.C., 
however, I repeat for the record the declaration I made when the 
paper was founded — namely, that I desire no financial gain what- 
ever from the funds I have invested in the paper, and that if such 
gain should nevertheless fall to my share, I shall turn it over to our 
Zionist propaganda fund. 

I request that this last declaration be kept in complete confi- 
dence, since I do not wish to impose upon the other shareholders 
among our followers the moral necessity of acting likewise. I, too, 
would not disdain the legitimate earnings of a newspaper, if it 
were not the special case for me that it is the official organ of a 
movement of which I am the head. 


September 29, Vienna 

The Austrian crisis is now being solved exactly the way I advised 
in my letter to the Chief of Police a few months ago: through 
revocation of the language ordinances and personal intervention 
by the Emperor with the factions. 


878 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

October 1 

Today Josef Lichtneckert, the “returned Jesus Christ,’’ called 
on me — a lunatic of the purest water. To get rid of him, I let him 
come in, made friendly conversation with him, and explained to 
him that I could not give him the 5000 or 2000 guilders he was 
asking for; why didn’t he apply to the Bible Society. This sugges- 
tion he received gratefully. Whether I have got rid of him this way 
is still doubtful, to be sure. 


October 5 

Today I happened to run into Dr. Komfeld, the psychiatrist, 
in the print-shop of the Welt. I told him about the “returned Jesus 
Christ.” He told me that this was probably a dangerous lunatic 
and took it upon himself to call on him and, if necessary, to notify 
the police. He said that one would incur a responsibility if one did 
not do this, for the man could suddenly get the compulsion to kill 
someone. 


October 6 

Hechler is to go to Darmstadt on Monday to request an audience 
with the Czar for me. I am giving him this letter for the Grand 
Duke of Hesse: 

Your Royal Highness: 

The kindly Rev. Hechler is the bearer of this note. May I recall 
myself to your memory in a few words? 

When last August I had the distinction of being received at 
Darmstadt, Your Royal Highness made me the most gracious 
promise to intercede with His Majesty the Emperor of Russia to 
the end that I be received by this exalted lord as well in order to 
explain the purposes and aims of Zionism. 

For Russia the question is important enough. Our proposal 
means a solution which is humanitarian and complete at the same 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 879 

time. Your Royal Highness said further that ideas of such enver- 
gure [scope] were capable of arousing the Czar’s interest. God 

grant itl 

Begging Your Royal Highness to accept the expression of my 
deep respect, I am 

Your obedient servant, 

Dr. Th. H. 

October 13, ’99, Vienna 

To Dr. Alfred Stem, the Community Councillor and Vice- 
President of the Vienna Jewish Community, I owe — who would 
have thought it!— an idea for the future. The other day he asked 
me not to let their Polna Protest Meeting at the Musikvereinssaal 
be disturbed by our students. I promised it to him on the condition 
that we at least be permitted to put up one speaker to discuss the 
question of what was to be done with the exiles and “bumed-out 
people” of Polna, Kuttenberg, etc. Should not a campaign to aid 
them be started? Stem implored me in dismay to abandon this idea. 
It would be tantamount to mobilizing all of Bohemia. That is to 
say, the poor Jews from all over Bohemia would come to Vienna in 
search of help, and the local upper Jews* would have the bother. 

I pretended that I was being dissuaded, but immediately made 
a note of the effect in eventum [for possible future use]. Once the 
moment — of the Charter! — has come, I shall intimidate the upper- 
class Jews in Vienna, London, and Paris with a pilgrimage of 
misbre [misery]. I can easily give the word, as was recently done at 
Creusot. 


October 14, Vienna 

Hechler’s expedition seems to have failed. He telegraphs from 
Darmstadt: 

Brother-in-law (Grand Duke) very friendly, will ask father 
• In English in the original. 


880 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

(Czar) , but impossible in immediate future. He wishes to issue 
direct invitation. Returning today. Heinrich. 


October 16, Vienna 

The Boer War may be Pandora’s box for the Jews of England 
If the English troops should fare badly, the repercussions can hit 
the Jews. The mine speculators will be accused of having plunged 
England into this misfortune. 

Am I seeing things aright? 


October 2 1 , Vienna 

Hechler returned today from the Grand Dukes of Baden and 
Hesse. Baden was kind and good as always, Hesse cool and reserved. 
Hechler thought my letter had not been subservient enough, and 
said: “The smaller a man is, the more he wants to be flattered.” 

Bref [In short], a failure. 

Now, following the Czar’s departure from Darmstadt, we will 
try a letter to the Czarina, asking her to procure an audience for 
me at St. Petersburg. 


October 27, ’99 

In today’s N. Fr. Pr. there is a despatch from Karlsruhe to the 
effect that the Czar plans to visit the Grand Duke of Baden. I am 
writing the Grand Duke: 

\our Royal Highness: 

In a few words— so as not to be a burden— I should like to pre- 
sent a great, earnest request. 

There are reports in the newspapers that His Majesty the 
mperor of Russia will visit Your Royal Highness within the next 
ew ays. o me this seems like a sign from providence. 

T • k 1 ' 0 ,; 13 ! interest t0 our movement that I obtain an audience 
with H. M. the Czar. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 881 

There are two reasons: First, to inform the exalted lord about 
the honest aims of Zionism. Second, to make our movement appear 
as recognized in Russia through the fact of this audience. My poor 
associates in Russia are continually trembling for fear that here 
and there some governor might see something wicked in their 
Zionism, too. His Majesty’s ukase in favor of Zionism would be 
too much — for in filtering down to lower echelons it would be 
given the character of a deportation order. Since we still have no 
Charter from the Turkish government, this would be a mass 
catastrophe. On the other hand, my audience would be just the 
amount of benevolence that we need at present to continue our 
work. I will not even ask for another, a positive, kind of help. 

Your Royal Highness has known for a long time how earnestly 
I have been serving this redeeming idea, what great pains I have 
taken and how I have not given way to enmity. May I request aid 
this time, too, from Your Royal Highness’ good will which has 
already been a comfort to me in many a difficult hour? 

I would immediately respond to a telegraphic summons to 
Baden or to Darmstadt. However, should the Imperial visitor have 
no more time for this now, let him order me to St. Petersburg or 
any place whatever. 

I believe I may already point to one useful effect of my activity: 
I have converted many from the false doctrines of social revolution 
and turned them to an ideal. 

May my habit of looking up to Your Royal Highness as to my 
most gracious helper serve as my excuse if my request of today con- 
tains anything improper or impracticable. 

With my deepest respect and heartfelt gratitude I remain 

Your Royal Highness’ most obedient servant. 
Dr. Th.H. 

October 30, Vienna 

I have a report from the University that several students are 
rebelling against me. 


882 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 
Columbus’ crew is also immortal. 

This week I am sending for the officers of the student associa- 
tions, in order to knock some sense into their heads. 

* # # 

Nuri writes he will soon send me a confidential agent here in 
Vienna. 


* # * 

Tnetsch is spreading successful propaganda in Rumania for 
his Cyprus project which I consider very sensible, although out of 
consideration for the Hovevei Zion I must not come out in favor 
of it. 


November 2, Vienna 

From my bathroom this morning I saw a telegraph messenger 
walk by the garden fence. I watched eagerly to see if he would stop 
at my gate. He did. The maid brought me the telegram with the 
red paper stnp of court telegrams. Aha! From the Grand Duke. 
The wire could be interesting. I prolonged my anticipation a bit 
m order to amuse myself. The fact that he had sent a wire proved 

t at he had something to tell me. But what? The summons to the 
Czar? 

The telegram reads: 


. Baden-Baden Palace, Nov. 1, 7:45 p.m. 

oing to Darmstadt tomorrow and expecting final decision 
there which I shall report immediately. 

Friedrich 

The words final decision permit the assumption that he has 

a ready spoken with the Czar at Baden-Baden and received no 
outright refusal. 

uld be a tremendous step forward. On the other hand, I 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 883 

read today in the official newspaper despatches that the Czar is 

staying in Darmstadt until Nov. y. 

Thus it might be possible that we are at the threshold of a great 

success of Zionism. 


Novembers 

The expected reply from the Grand Duke has not come. 

Since by today he must have left Darmstadt, this silence only 
admits of the explanation that the Czar, who did not wish to refuse 
outright in Baden-Baden and asked for time to think it over, mean- 
while had an excuse prepared for him by Minister Muraviev or his 
staff. 

To be sure, it would also be conceivable that he simply does not 
wish to receive me now and that he will summon me to Russia. 
I would even much prefer the latter. Another possibility would be 
that the good Grand Duke had to march off completely bredouille 
[empty-handed]. 

Bref, nousverrons [In short, we shall see]. 

* * * 


Letter to Nuri:* 


November 7, Vienna 

Your Excellency: 

Permit me to outline briefly for you the current state of affairs. 

Since the last Congress at Basel the movement has begun to 
lean toward Cyprus. Seeing that the Turkish government does not 
appear disposed to come to an understanding with us, they want to 
turn toward the island which is controlled by England and is 
always accessible to us. After several years immigrants there be- 
come full-fledged citizens, enjoying a large measure of autonomy, 
etc. 


• In French in the original. 


884 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Until the next Congress I will still be master of the situation 
But if I have nothing to show up to that time, our plans fall into 
the water — of Cyprus.* 

It is up to the statesmen of Turkey to understand in time the 
advantages that would slip through your fingers. You would not 
have the Jewish establishment in Palestine that would have 
brought you a great deal of money immediately, then the ordering 
of your entire financial situation, a modem fleet, industrial and 
commercial life, finally the well-being of the Empire. 

But if you do not have Jewish colonization to benefit you, you 
will have colonization by others to cost you dearly. You will not be 
able to deny immigration to “friendly nations.” From one conces- 
sion to another, step by step, you will be forced to give up for 
pleasant words and handshakes what you could have yielded for 
real benefits. Others are interested in making you weaker and 
weaker— we, on the contrary, are interested in making you stronger 
and stronger, for you will have to protect us. 

The sovereignty of H. M. the Sultan which with us would be 
lasting and strong would become, thanks to “capitulations,” a 
formality that would finally disappear like that of Crete. 

Please accept these sincere, serious words from a devoted friend 
who does not conceal the fact that he has his own people’s interests 
in view, but in full accord with the interests of Turkey. In order 
to restore the patience and courage of the Zionists, it is indis- 
pensable that I be received as soon as possible by H.M. the 
Sultan and that I explain our loyal, advantageous projects to 
his exalted wisdom. 

Please accept the assurance of my profound regard. 

Your very devoted 
Th. H. 

That entails no commitment yet; the Sultan will decide after 
having heard me. 

• Translator’s Note: Herzl humorously alludes to eau de Chypre, the name of i 
perfume. Thus, our plans fall into the toilet water”! 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 885 

November 8, Vienna 

No news from the Grand Duke. In any case, his attempt to have 
the Czar receive me at Darmstadt has failed, since by today the 
Czar is at Potsdam. Perhaps I shall yet get a letter explaining the 
detailed circumstances. 

Perhaps I didn’t manage to make a good impression on the 
Grand Duke of Hesse and he has prevented it? 

# * * 

I foresee the next developments like this: If by the Fourth Con- 
gress I have not made any headway with the Turkish government, 

I shall prepare the Cyprus project sous la main [in short order], go 
to London, speak with Salisbury, and induce the Congress to go to 
Cyprus for the time being. 

At any rate, I believe that after the next Congress we shall 
actually go to the country, to some country. 

I could, of course, hasten all this if I were a free man and could 
travel whenever necessary. Then I would have been in Karlsruhe, 
near by when the Czar was there, and umpteen other opportunities 
would have been created and taken advantage of. By now I would 
have gone to Constantinople, too, and accomplished something 
there. 

But I am a little clerk of Messieurs Bacher and Benedikt. I must 
show up at the office every day, even though I don’t do much there. 

If the Welt had offered me some financial support, everything 
would have been better and quicker. But I had to declare in 
advance that I would turn any profits over to the movement. On 
the contrary, the movement has left me in the lurch, and so far 
I have lost more than 25,000 guilders on the Welt. And as if this 
weren’t enough, they are now arming against this paper to which 
we owe the entire development for the past three years, the Con- 
gress, the Bank. Everybody is dissatisfied with the articles. They all 
want to interfere, but when it comes to paying, they give me a free 
hand. 

It is a good lesson for me. Probably things would be even worse 
if I were already completely ruined. 


886 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR H ERz L 

Verlasse dich auf Fiirsten nicht, 

Siesind wie eine Wiege 

[Put not thy trust in princes who 

Like cradles rock from side to side] 

I could say with reference to the German Kaiser’s “help.” 

But when I think of my adherents, who will rebel at the slightest 
provocation, I can add the conclusion of the verse: 

Wer heute Hosiannah spricht, 

Spricht morgen: Crucifige! 

[They who today’s ‘Hosanna’ cry. 

Say next: ‘Let him be crucified!']* 

In truth, I put my trust neither in princes nor in the people, but 
only m myself. r 

For that reason I must work tremendously hard in order to meet 
my needs: one play after the other (unfortunately, it’s hard to get 
them performed), and now the novel Altneuland. 

l ° some f° r my mill, I now have even revised 
my old farce Mutter, sohnchen [Mother’s Boy] and included a pan 
or t e comedian Girardi. There is no literary work that would be 

1 ° f n j >at Some to me * A n d there will probably be reproaches 
levelled at me when it becomes known that I as “prophet” am 
performing such basse besogne [hack work]. But what am I to do? 
lonism is costing me money and must not yield me anything, 
n t e ot er hand, I have done myself very great harm as a 
German writer,” and they don’t quite dare to perform me. For 
e same reason, there is no hope for advancement with the N. 

ru T et c ^ a ims upon me grow from every side. Shnorrers 
[beggars] of all kinds come to me, from as far as Persia. Again and 
g must put out money for the Welt, the Congress, and the 


hymn.^^Prin^Bism^ 6 ?- 1 undoubted, y rea d these lines, part of an old Protes 
Bismarck quotes them hT S autobio g r aphy Gedanken und Er inner un, gen (il 

Leopold 3TSSS Tr?'“T ” Uh hil ° f «“ l r poMU 11 

&om ,he Engli,h *" 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 887 

If people knew all this, they might admire me more than they do. 
But the explanation that is presumably circulating about me 
among the public is probably either that it is netting me a pile of 
money, or that I am doing it out of vanity. 

If, however, I break down, the public will rain kicks on me; 
people will laugh at me and be ungrateful. 

So, don’t break down! 


November 12, Vienna 

Received a fine holograph letter from the Grand Duke, dated 
Baden-Baden the 10th of the month. 

He writes that he discussed my request with the Czar at Baden- 
Baden and at Wolfsgarten. As regards the cause, the Czar was 
favorably disposed to it even at Baden; but he did not want to 
express himself about my audience until Wolfsgarten. When the 
Grand Duke brought it up again at Wolfsgarten, he could tell that 
Muraviev, who had returned from Paris in the meantime, had used 
his influence against it. 

However, I am to work out a memorandum in French which 
the Grand Duke offers to transmit to the Czar. 


November 12, ’99 

I am answering: 

Your Royal Highness: 

I have just received, with heartfelt thanks. Your Royal Highness’ 
most gracious holograph letter of the 10th inst. 

Even though unfortunately no immediate success is noted, all 
the exalted kindness of the noblest prince once again speaks from 
it directly to my heart. It goes without saying that I shall take Your 
Royal Highness’ advice, which guides me under all circumstances, 
and work out a memorandum in the French language. As soon as 
it is completed, I shall take the liberty of sending it to Karlsruhe. 


888 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

Begging Y.R.H. to accept the expression of my deepest respect 
and everlasting gratitude, I am 


Your most obedient servant, 
Dr. Th. H. 

November 22, ’99, Vienna 

Yesterday I sent my vague, prolix, court-style memorandum for 
the Czar to Alex Marmorek in Paris for translation. 

Like Sheherazade, I made less of an effort to please with my nar- 
rative than to arouse a desire for more. I supplemented this en- 
deavor in my covering letter to the Czar: * 

Sire: 

It is to the graciousness of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke 
of Baden, who has consented to become the exalted sponsor of ray 
humble request for an audience with Your Imperial Majesty, that 
I owe my permission to submit the Zionist plan for the final solu- 
tion of the Jewish Question. The Zionists wish to benefit their un- 
fortunate brethren, draw them away from subversive doctrines, 
and set them on the way to a more exalted morality in the very 
interest of all humanity. 

The enclosed account contains only the broad outlines of the 
plan. Not to be too long about it, I have restricted myself to supply- 
ing only some general indications. As for the numerous questions 
about detail, I am at all times at Your Imperial Majesty’s disposal. 
For the manner in which the project could be executed, for the 
ways and means of making it a reality, an oral explanation would 
be of the greatest usefulness. If I presume, then, humbly to ask 
the favor of being allowed to present myself at St. Petersburg or 
any other place it may please Your Majesty to designate, it is in the 
highest interest of the cause to which I have devoted myself. The 
solution of this painful question would be a great and splendid 
act, worthy of our time, worthy of the most magnanimous sover- 
eigns. 

I am, Sire, with the profoundest respect 

# In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 889 

Your Imperial Majesty’s very humble and obedient servant. 

Dr. Th. H. 

Covering Letter to the Grand Duke of Baden 
Your Royal Highness: 

I am taking the liberty of respectfully submitting, as an en- 
closure, the memorandum I composed at the most gracious advice 
of Your Royal Highness, as well as a letter to H.M. the Emperor 
of Russia. 

In accordance with Your Royal Highness wish, I have kept it 
brief. 

God grant that I have hit on the right thing this way. 

Should my text have to be revised, cut, or expanded in any way, 
I beg most respectfully to have the unsatisfactory places indicated 
tome. 

With the expression of heartfelt respect and loyal gratitude for 
all your gracious help, I remain 

Your Royal Highness’ most obedient servant, 
Dr. Th. H. 


Nov. 25, Vienna 

Yesterday Carl Herbst of Sofia was here and made the good 
suggestion of having the Young Turks work on the Sultan. In the 
papers of the Young Turks we should have the government cen- 
sured for its carelessness in not taking up the advantageous offers 
of the Zionists. 


December 2, Vienna. 

Rumors about Bacher’s leaving the N. Fr. Pr. have been floating 
about the office for the past few days. He is said to have sold his 
interest in the paper to financiers. I discussed it with Cousin 
Moritz, who held out to me the possibility of finding the money 


890 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

to acquire the shares, provided that Bacher lets me have them \ 
great deal would depend on it. I shall try to talk to him. 


December 5, Vienna. 

I am suddenly facing a turning point in my life. It is very much 
in the nature of an outbreak of war which one has expected fora 
long, long time and which surprises one intensely when it does 
burst forth. 

In the last few days the following happened: 

On Saturday, December 2, I left with Bacher after we had put 
the evening paper to bed, and accompanied him to his home. At 
first I joked with him. Then I suddenly said to him: 

“I am going to interview you now. Do you know what people 
are saying in Vienna? That you want to retire.” 

He: That is not quite correct put this way. I have already 

heard it myself, but it is not true. Unfortunately! I have the desire 
all right, but as yet there is no possibility.” 

I. \ou rvon t consider my question indiscreet. You understand 
that the matter is of interest to a colleague, too. In our relationship 
there is a lot of the personal. A man does not want to obey just any 
superior.” 

He understood. Then we went to his new house which he had 
just bought and moved into. Together with his wife he shoAved 
me the place. Then I left without having said any more. 

After that I consulted Avith my parents and with Moritz. They 
Avere of the opinion that I should ask him directly whether he Avas 
willing to relinquish his share to me. 

Thereupon I Avrote him immediately to give me an appointment 
at his home for the next day (Sunday), morning or afternoon. On 
Sunday I Avaited Avith impatience and astonishment until ten 
o clock; nothing came from him. Then I had to go out, and only 
when I got back at 1:30 p.m. did I find his letter, saying that he 
expected me betAveen 1 1 and 12 in the morning. The appointment 
could not be arranged for the afternoon either. Thus our meeting 
was postponed until yesterday. 


THE complete DIARIES OF THEODOR herzl 891 

Ready for battle I went Uke to 

about me and \ n excit ed half-hour of anticipa- 

f“„n “"tried to compose myself in case he came 

Pi * ,Tfeel before ^"crucial "tioT wUh some superior. 
Sly I couldn’t stand it any longer and went au devantdu danger 
[into the face of the danger] . Bacher was sitti ng in the r ead tng ; room 
with Wittmann. Their conversation revolved around theatric 

matters. I participated in it halfheartedly. 

Before I had gone to the office, I had visited my good parents, 
as I do every day, and had them give me their blessing for the 
difficult, great undertaking. It may be ridiculous, but I did feel 
a need for it. In addition to their blessing they also gave me the 
good advice to act with assurance. And I did. 

The chat with Wittmann was over. We left. On the stairs I joked 
with Bacher. Then I preceded him out through the gate, silently 
saying to myself: “Now I may be leaving the N. Ft. Pr., never to 
return.” 

We were on the Parkring. On the staircase I had said to Bacher 
when he was starting to talk about it: “Quand on est mort, (f est 
pour longtemps — et quand on parle de choses serieuses, c’est aussi 
pour longtemps [When one is dead, it is for a long time; and when 
one talks about serious matters, it is also for along time].” 

When we had arrived at the Ring, I started in. I had learned 
the opening by heart, so as not to falter. 

“For some time I have harbored the idea of striking out on my 
OAvn. Every little clerk wants to become a manager some day. The 
way you replied to me the day before yesterday will probably make 
my intention mature earlier. If you retire, the situation at the 
N. Fr. Pr. will in any case become different. That situation will 
hardly be to my taste any more. So I prefer leaving before that.” 

He said: “I assure you that all this is still highly premature. 
I should very much like to retire, because I am tired and have 
worked long enough. I have no children and don’t know for whom 
1 should wear myself out like this. But I haven’t got that far yet 


892 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

This is, above all, a question of property. I can’t abandon «. 
interests like that.” 

Thereupon I said to him a brule pourpoint [point-blankl- 
“I shall buy your interest if you want to let me have it Th 
funds will be made available to me by a few people in my family 
I want to become independent. I am forty yean old. Right now 
I still have ten years of full-strength work ahead of me. In that 
time I want to acquire something for my children. You can 
relinquish your share to me. After all, I have given my best to the 
N. Fr. Pr. for ten years now. I am a son of the firm. Certainly you 
can glve it to me sooner than to strange financiers. Do you know 

what people are saying? That you are going to give your interest 
to coal-Gutmann!” 


He, indignantly: ‘‘And you believed that about me?” 

I shrugged my shoulders. 

He: ‘‘Who told you that?” 

I: “I don’t want to gossip.” 

(I had it from Goldbaum). 

He: “The difficulty was precisely that I had no suitable persoi 
to take over. I can’t turn over my holdings to a bank. The N. Fr. Pr 

trough” 61 " ° f h ° n0r With mC ' 1 ^ 1 TUn aWay like a pig fr0m 11 

(Never had I liked him as much as at that moment). 

e concluded. I am ready in principle to turn my interest ovei 
you. ut Benedikt s consent is a condtcio sine qua non findis 
pensable condition]. It would be an act of impropriety if I let mj 

share go without his approval. Whether he will ever give it, I don’i 
know; I rather doubt it.” 

If he doesn t give his consent now, he never will. So I won’t 
gam anything by waiting. It will be better for me to leave im- 
late y and start a “Neue Presse" of my own. I can do it. All you 

to tJu** ^ C ^ rS a ^ 0 ’ W ^ en t * le government made me an offer, was 

ind.,r mC that y ° U W ° Uld be hurt if 1 left> That was enough to 
That t’ ^ t0 S ^fl * as ^ed nothing in return and got nothing. 

now thTtl° U addCd: WC are ° ld: Wh ° shaI1 su cceed us?’— Today, 
the matter is becoming serious, I am told that Benedikt 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 893 
would never accept me as a partner. Then it is really wiser for me 

t0 ^reiterated that he was willing, but everything depended on 
Benedikt, whom he wanted to tell about it the very same day. With 
this and a hearty handshake we parted in front of his house. 

I related this incident to my parents, Moritz, and my wife. 

It had excited me a great deal. 

I had exerted so much will-power to be controlled, but after- 
wards I did have cardiac pains and wobbly legs. 

Last night I slept little. The morning paper cheered me, because 
it was bad, empty, and skimpily put together. I inferred that it had 
suddenly become a matter of indifference to him, like some mer- 
chandise that one wants to get rid of. 

Am I mistaken? 

At any rate, today there will follow the second round with 
Benedikt. More excitement, perhaps even the decision. 

I am right up against victory or defeat. Never has the psychology 
of a war been so clear to me. 

It is a foolhardy undertaking, such as one is lured into by one’s 
imagination and which one then goes through with tant bien que 
mal [after a fashion], because one is too cowardly to back out. 

Tomorrow I may be out in the street — or perhaps be the ruler 
of the roost. 

If I fail, I still won’t face myself and my family without vindica- 
tion; for Benedikt’s refusal will have demonstrated that he in- 
tended to keep me in this inadequate, badly paid position the rest 
of my life, to squeeze me dry like a lemon, only to throw me away 
some day. 

As it says in the French farce: “Si je n’avais pas peur, oil serait le 
courage [If I weren’t afraid, where would I find the courage]?” 


December 6, Vienna 

The second round is over. 

Yesterday, after the evening paper had been put to bed, I accom- 
panied Benedikt home. 


894 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

He had already been prepared for the assaut [attack] by Bather 
and defended himself absolutely brilliantly. 

I began: “Did Dr. Bacher tell you?” 

He: “What? That you want to start a paper? Why shouldn’t 
you?” 

The other possibility— my moving into Bacher’s place— he 
didn’t even mention, evidently because he thought it the more 
frightful one. He explained to me for what two papers there was 
still room in Vienna: a radically popular liberal paper and a gen- 
uinely Social-Democrat one. I rejected both. 

I am going to start a distinguished paper on the largest scale.” 

He: “There is not room in Vienna for two such papers.” 

I. We shall see. Unless you accept me as a partner in Bacher's 
place.” 

He: “Bacher has no intention of retiring.” 

I: “He specifically told me so yesterday.” 

He: “He didn’t want to give you a flat No. Why, I have more 
thoughts of retiring than he does.” (Of course, neither is true; 
Bacher is tired, he isn’t.) 

We then got into an extremely affable conversation. I had to 
accompany him upstairs to his apartment and have coffee with 
him. He offered me great opportunities with a cigar. He confiden- 
tially painted for me the dangers I would be facing with my ex- 
periment. I depicted for him the dangers of his refusal and 
told him the program of my paper: a “ Neue Freie Presse” which 

wouldn t be Zionist, to be sure, but would report on the Zionist 
movement. 

Thereupon I went into the grievances I had stored up over the 
years, the silence about our movement, the grotesquely inade- 
quate position I have on the paper, the ridiculously small salary, 
t e lack of freedom whenever I want to make an important trip. 

He said. 1 11 take care of that. Your demands are justified.” 

I. I beg your pardon, I am not demanding a thing. I am merely 
telling you that I am dissatisfied with my present situation and see 
no improvement in the future. Just as you think of your children, 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 895 

I think of mine. You want to make the Neue Freie Presse into an 
heirloom of the Benedikts, as the Times is that of the Walters— but 

I don’t want to be the Erbfdrster.”* 

We spoke about this, that, and the other thing, and talked 
around it. His line was to look right through me, with an uncon- 
cerned face, and to frighten me about the experiment. My line was 
to intimidate him. 

We finally broke off and postponed it until another time. 

I promised him to work on the Christmas number in any case. 
That was a point d’honneur [point of honor] with me. 


December 7 


Yesterday all quiet on the Plevna front. * * 

Only two signs were to be noted, one favorable and one unfavor- 
able. 

Favorable: Hugo Ganz came to me at noon yesterday and com- 
plained that in his feuilleton about Nordau more than half — 
namely, the tempering of the praise — had been blue-pencilled, so 
that only boundless admiration remained. This is an indication of 
lack of courage on the part of Benedikt who does not want to incur 
the displeasure of my associate Nordau. The entire feuilleton is a 
concession of cowardice, to keep Nordau for the Neue Freie Presse. 

Unfavorable: Bacher and Benedikt avoided a discussion with 
me yesterday. Benedikt asked Wittmann to accompany him home. 
I kept silent. 

Today I shall engage him and tell him that I won’t allow the 
matter to be shelved. 

•Translator’s Note: A reference to Otto Ludwig’s tragedy Der Erbfdrster (The 
Hereditary Forester, 1850) in which the protagonist claims that, since he has inherited 
his position from his father and grandfather, he cannot legally be discharged. When 
the forester receives the threatened dismissal from the new owner of the estate, he 
tries to take revenge, with tragic results. 

•• Translator’s Note: Plevna was a town the Russians besieged for 143 days in the 
Russo-Turkish War of 1877. What Herzl really means is: “All quiet on the N. Fr. Pr . 
front.” 


896 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

December 8 

Yesterday, the third round with Benedikt. 

He made me some propositions: Equal salary with Wittmann. 
Expansion of my sphere of influence, a kind of sovereignty in the 
literary section. He also seemed mollified in regard to Zionism. 1 
rejected his proposals. 

He was evidently shaken by this, and started to think of my 
resignation as a more serious possibility. We talked back and forth 
for hours. 


# # # 

Yesterday the rumor circulated at the Stock Exchange that 
Bacher was retiring from the Neue Freie Presse and that I was 
taking his place. — When I left Benedikt, I ran into coal-Gutmann 
who acted very familiar, linked arms with me, and walked part of 
the way with me — evidently also in connection with the rumors 
that I was going to be boss; his talk was awfully Zionist. 


December 12 

Yesterday, suspension, actually conclusion, of the duel. Benedikt 
proposed that I should stay. The publishers grant me the highest 
salary of any staff member of the Neue Freie Presse — 3000 guilders 
more than Wittmann gets. Moreover, whenever the Zionist move- 
ment achieves any practical result, they are willing to record it 
without bias. I am to be given the exclusive editorship of the entire 
literary section of the Neue Freie Presse. 

I asked for time to think it over, inwardly determined to accept. 

What was to be won at this time I have won. 


December 12 

Wrote to Nordau to intervene on behalf of my memorandum 
with Pobedonostsev, and to Baroness Suttner to do the same with 
Muraviev and Ambassador Kapnist. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 897 

December 18, Viennna 

Baroness Suttner writes: “ All right!"* She has written to Mura- 
viev and Kapnist, but does not expect much success from her inter- 
vention. Neither do 1. 1 was only interested in showing Muraviev 
and Kapnist that I don’t want to bypass them. 

* * * 

The day before yesterday the following letter arrived from 
Moi’s* * pen-holder Crespi: * * * 

Dear Sir: 

Thanks to the formation of a company at Stuttgart, to which the 
king and queen of Wurttemberg have subscribed the major part, a 
company with a capital of 500,000 marks intended for German 
farm colonization in Palestine, the matter entrusted to us has taken 
a giant step forward. 

Please be ready, upon receipt of a telegram which I shall send 
you, to come here immediately, for H.M. will be disposed to grant 
you an audience. 

Negotiations are so far advanced in your favor that I need only 
wire you “Leave at once,” and you will be received immediately 
upon your arrival. I cannot give you the details of the colossal 
efforts that have been made during the past month, but I can assure 
you that the result has been and will be a practical one. Please keep 
what I have told you in the strictest confidence. 

With kind regards, 
Crespi 

* # * 

If this is true and is not intended as the groundwork for some 
vague demand for money or to reassure me about the first payment, 
it is an enormous step. 

• In English in the original. 

** Translator’s Note: Herzl refers to Nuri Bey as “Moi.” The English equivalent 
might be “The Great Ego.” 

•••In French in the original. 


898 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

It doesn’t sound improbable, either. Siemens of the Deutsche 
Bank is in Constantinople in connection with the Bagdad Rail, 
road. The Turks have his knife and the water at their throats. Ger- 
many is making tremendous progress in the Orient. However, the 
benefits the Sultan has from it are highly Platonic in nature. Porce- 
lain vases, handshakes, decorations, telegrams — that is all. The 
German crusade looks like railroad construction and such tomfool- 
ery. Meanwhile the Turks are beginning to see the light. Perhaps 
Ambassador Constans did his share in arousing suspicion against 
Germany. 

But perhaps I am only being called to get Siemens to make a bet- 
ter offer. I am being treated as the Jew with whom they threaten to 
sign. 

Whatever may be the case, I shall make the trip at once. Of 
course, I wouldn’t put it past the good Moi to have some bandit 
friends pull me off the Orient Express en route, so he can extort 
some ransom from Jewry as whose head he regards me. Therefore, 
if I am really summoned and if it is at all possible, I shall go to Con- 
stantinople by sea. 

If I go, I will send Hechler to the Grand Duke in order to influ- 
ence German diplomacy and banking in my favor. They shall give 
orders from Berlin that I am an ally and secret friend, and even 
though I am not supported, I shall not be hindered. 


December 27, Vienna 

Nothing from Constantinople, nothing, nothing. 

Je me desespere [I am in despair]. 

Precisely because the summons seemed to be so imminent, this 
ay-to-day disappointment is so extremely distressing. 

a y s papers report that the Constantinople ambassador 
raus is passing through here. Gottheil wrote that Straus would 
me up. In any case, I think the dignified thing for me to do is 

not to call on him. 6 

The papers further report from Constantinople the conclusion 
p e lminary agreement, with advance payment, between the 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 899 

Porte and the Deutsche Bank. Perhaps, as the temporary need for 
money disappeared, so did their desire to call in the Jew. 

Or was the whole thing hokum on N uri’s part? 


December 29, Vienna 

Spoke yesterday with the American ambassador to Constanti- 
nople, Oscar Straus, who is passing through here. I had Schalit in- 
quire in the morning when we could have a talk. He invited me to 

come to the Hotel Imperial at 5:30 p.m. 

He is of below-average height, lean, with a reddish, sparse beard, 
a hook-nose, Jewish handle-ears, scanty hair; 48 years old, dry, 
smart* and yet instantly likeable because of his honest eyes. 

After five minutes we were on familiar terms, although he began 
by remarking that I enjoyed the reputation of being indiscreet. 
However, he couldn’t blame me for my inconsiderateness, for in 
such a great matter persons cannot be spared. He himself was 
neither for nor against Zionism, for he held an official position. 
Then he needlessly pledged me to divulge nothing of our conversa- 
tion. 

He considers Palestine impossible for us to attain. The Greek 
and Roman-Catholic Churches would not let us have it. I told him 
that I considered only Rome an opponent. I forgot to give him my 
deeper reason: that only Roman Catholicism is as oecumenical as 
Judaism. Rome is the rich brother who hates the poor brother. 
The other Churches are national and therefore don’t need Jeru- 
salem as an Archimedean point. 

Straus is for Mesopotamia! He said he knew that a long time ago 
a pamphlet on Mesopotamia had been sent me by Cyrus Adler, at 
the instigation of some friends (Judge Sulzberger and others in 
New York). 

Mesopotamia, he said, was attainable. There are no church rival- 
ries there, and it is the original home of Israel. Abraham came 
from Mesopotamia, and there we could make use of the mystic 
elements, too. 

• In English in the original. 


900 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

It is the idea of faire tache d’huile [spreading out] which Nuri 
expressed at Scheveningen. Artin Pasha, too, had written me in a 
similar vein — acting, as I now guess, on the advice of Straus, who 
was acquainted with my letters to Artin. Straus sharply denounced 
the riffraff in power in and around Yildiz Kiosk. All the power was 
united in the Sultan’s fist. The ministers were idiots and cowardly 
corrupt characters. The Sultan didn’t give a hoot for the whole of 
T urkey. With talk about humanity* and the like nothing whatever 
could be accomplished with him. Oh yes, if he could see money or 
benefits of some other kind, he might perhaps be won over. But any 
conversation or negotiation with others was worthless. With the 
Sultan, or not at all. 

I told him about the prospect which had opened up to me two 
weeks ago, but unfortunately remained sans suite [unconcluded]. 

He pressed me hard to give him the name of my intermediary. 1 
kept stubbornly silent and thus gave him some proof of my discre- 
tion. He guessed over and over who it could be. I let him go on 
guessing. 

We parted as friends. I took his promise that he would send me 
tips which might be useful some time, signing himself with the 
pseudonym “Mesopotamicus.” 


1900 

January 2, Vienna 

Yesterday I sent the Grand Duke a New Year’s telegram, as I had 
done the previous year, and today I received the following wire: 

Grateful for your valued New Year’s wishes; returning my cor- 
dial wishes for your well-being in the new year. 

Meanwhile I received word from St. Petersburg two days ago, 
acknowledging receipt of the memorandum you sent me. It was 
favorably received, and I am to thank you for it. 

Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden. 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 901 

January 12, Vienna 

Mandelstamm worriedly reports that the Chief of the Russian 
Police has threatened Dr. Awinowitzky of Odessa that he would 
“close up the Zionist shop.” An allusion to our stand against the 
Socialists put the mighty man in a more gracious mood. 

I sent Mandelstamm my memorandum to the Czar as an amulet 

in case of emergency. 

* # * 

Moi’s agent, Crespi, made me the ridiculous proposal of buying 
the Constantinople paper Stamboul. At the same time he said that 
our efforts had been interrupted by the Ramadan. 

So at least there is again some hope that after the Ramadan 
things will perhaps go forward. 


January 13 

Yesterday, at the opening of I Love You at the Burgtheater, they 
once again made me suffer for my Zionism. At the end of the harm- 
less play there was violent hissing, which obviously could not have 
been caused by this unpretentious comedy. 

I must not live on Zionism; I am not to live on literature. 

A problem 1 


January 30, Vienna 

Last Saturday’s papers reported that Nuri had arrived here with 
Turkhan Pasha from The Hague (after the signing of the Peace 
Conference Protocol). I sent Kremenezky to the Hotel Imperial. 
Kremenezky waited for Nuri for hours, finally left, and when he 
returned on Sunday, Nuri had already departed. 

The fact that he did not call on me makes me fear the worst — a 
fraud. 

I am writing him today in an envelope addressed to Crespi: * 
Your Excellency: 

• In French in the original. 


902 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 

To my great disappointment I was not able to have the honor of 
seeing you when you passed through Vienna, though M. Crespi had 
told me of this opportunity. 

What am I to think of our project? 

I still think we are losing precious time, an opportunity that will 
never return. In his last letter M. Crespi very wisely pointed out 
that the audience, while freeing our friends of their obligations 
commits H.M. to nothing. Let him only deign to hear me. I am so 
convinced of the value of my proposals for the empire that I have 
no doubt of my success. 

Now there is a new, very powerful argument. Mahmoud Damad 
Pasha and the Young T urks are saying everywhere that the present 
government is incapable of finding resources, of bringing pros- 
perity to the country, and of constructing the indispensable fleet 
With the assistance that we can provide, all this can be accomp 
lished in no time. 

Think about it, Your Excellency and most honored friend, and 
as soon as possible let me have the joy of a summons to an audience. 

e assured. Excellency, of my highest esteem and complete 


Th.H. 


Already in European public opinion and, less publicly (perhaps 
even unbcknowmt to those in power at Yildiz), in certain high 
* tlC ^ circ ^ es t | le possibility of changing the whole government 
o ur ey is beginning to be discussed. Accept this warning from 
a sincere and completely trustworthy friend. 

All can collapse. Let us be foresighted and pursue the work of 

VOfirvn 1 


February 5 

On the train from Pest to Vienna. 

Again a time of great worry has come. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 903 

According to signed and anonymous complaints which have 

reached me, th.ngs at the Bank are in a state of dl5 ° rd " o 

A trip to London would be an urgent necessity. However, it 1 
don’t want to risk my position with the Neue Freie Presse , I can 
get away, and must entrust things to the Board * which is working 
against me, partly out of carelessness, partly wilfully and in delib- 

erate opposition to me. . . T 

I have had no word whatever from Nuri at Constantinople. In 

Russia and Rumania the movement is slowing down, in part 
because of the economic crisis which oppresses the Jews even 
further and makes them reluctant to make even the small sacrifices 
they have made up to now. 

Finally and chiefly, a great worry for me has appeared in Austria. 
The government has turned its attention, in an unwelcome 
fashion, to the Bank subscription. Brecher was summoned to the 
Vienna police headquarters, in Galicia the governor s office sent a 
form to the communities; the subscription was declared disloyal 
and its continuation prohibited. 

I can only believe that this importunity is the consequence of a 
denunciation. Naturally we shall make an appeal against this 
decree. Besides, Oskar Marmorek is to speak with Governor 
Kielmansegg, and I shall try to get to Prime Minister Koerber. 

It would be a shame and incomprehensible if the government 
did not understand us. If it undermines Zionism, all the Zionists 
will turn Social Democrats. But another consequence of this pro- 
hibition would be that the poor people who have made a part pay- 
ment would lose it, because the Bank is not authorized to refund 
the money. I only hope that I can make Koerber understand this. 

* * * 

Yesterday I had a little discussion with some Hungarian Jews: 
Agari, Deputy Visontai, Dr. Reich, Viola, L. Neugebauer, 
Sebestyen, Guttenberg, Dr. Alexander. 

I counselled them as non-Zionists to speak out publicly in favor 
of our movement. With a beau geste [nice gesture] they could 

# In English in the original. 


904 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

accomplish something that might avert future dangers for them 
Russian immigration would be channeled away from the border 
and at the same time a safety-valve would be provided for future 
anti-Semitism which is probably unavoidable in Hungary, too. 

The gentlemen undertook to discuss the matter with some in- 
fluential Gentile friends. 

Visontai plans to interest his party chief Ugron in it. 

He also gave a description of conditions among the Hungarian 
Jews which are by no means as rosy as people abroad believe. 


February g, Vienna 

Governor Kielmansegg gave Marmorek very reassuring informa- 
tion. The decree against the Bank subscription is not political but 
fiscal in nature. He knows Zionism and myself and considers our 
movement a humanitarian one; and, as far as he knows, the 
Imperial government has no objections to us, either. 

Crespi sent me the draft of a letter that can be shown around 
which I am to address to him (Crespi). The letter is in the most 
Levantine French, full of incredible mistakes and lapses of taste. 
However, I am copying it word for word and sending it off today. 

It says in it: why will the mighty Caliph, who receives the 
poorest, not give me a brief hearing? J’apporte des millions de 
limes [I am bringing millions of pounds], etc. 

But evidently this is the effective tone — they wouldn’t use it 
just for fun. 


February 1 6, Vienna 

Yesterday morning I had the audience with Prime Minister 
Koerber which Dr. Ehrlich had arranged. At 9 o’clock I appeared 
at the Ministry of the Interior and was immediately taken to 
Koerber who gave me an extraordinarily friendly reception. He 
was already fully informed about the Bank matter, which I had 
come about, had got out the file on it, and read me the decrees of 
the governor’s offices of Lower Austria and Galicia. He said he was 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 905 
. , n be as obliging to me as the law permitted. I replied 
thafwe would be satisfied if at least the people who had already 
tde down-payments were allowed to complete the transact on 
and pay up their shares, so that no one would lose money on t 
Bank Zionism, I said, deserved to be encouraged rather than 
weakened by the government, for it constituted the only way out 
of the serious Jewish Question. Otherwise all the persecuted Jews, 
,o whom we are opening up an ideal vista, would become enem.es 

Koerber said: “I admire the perseverance with which you have 

been pursuing this work for years. 

I remarked that it was really the most beautiful life-work. I was 

aware that people were laughing at me. 

He smiled: “Yes, I know that, too.” 

I: “But I pay very little attention to it.” 

Civilities and amiability concluded the half-hour conversation. 
He asked me for a concise, factual presentation of the entire sub- 
scription project, and invited me to call on him whenever I had 
anything to say to him. He would also ask me, as occasion offered, 
to visit him at his home in the evening, where we could then talk 
at greater leisure. 


February 28 

The memorandum requested by Koerber: 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to give you the following information regard- 
ing the Jewish Colonial Trust (Jewish Colonial Bank) Limited of 
London, which I was privileged to tell Your Excellency about in 
person. 

This Jewish Colonial Trust was founded to serve the purposes 
of the Zionist movement. 

The founders of this Bank pursue no aims of profit whatever in 
this. In fact, the prospectus and the statutes preclude from the 


906 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER ZL 

outset that the Board of Directors and the Council (which do 
not consist of businessmen and of which I am a member) deriT 
any profit from the enterprise. The founding costs were contrib 
uted a fonds perdu [outright] by a number of our followers. I m ' 
self put 500 pounds sterling into it. 

The Bank is intended to constitute the body corporate which 
is necessary for acquiring a settlement charter from the govern- 
ment of His Majesty the Sultan. By colonizing Palestine under the 
guidance of great principles the possibility is to be created of 
alleviating the lot of the Jewish proletarians who are suffering 

greatly in many countries, particularly in Galicia, Rumania, and 
Russia. 

The Bank is to have a share capital of two million pounds 
sterling in one-pound shares. The Zionist movement has the 
resistance of the rich Jews to contend with. Therefore the sub- 
scription had to address itself mainly to the masses. To safeguard 
the deposits it was stipulated that operations must not start until 
at least 250,000 pounds had been paid in cash in London. The sub- 
scnpion yielded 300,000 shares; up to now, however, not quite 
100,000 pounds have been paid in at London, because the subscrip- 
tion is being handled in instalments. 

™ rou * h the governors edicts which impelled me to intervene 
wit Your Excellency, the continuation of the subscription in 
ustria has been prohibited. This is all the more regrettable be- 
cause to date 579° subscribers in Austria have subscribed 14,044 
shares and made partial payments on them. 

The down payments have, of course, been transferred to Lon- 
don. 

The subscription has been publicized in the papers, but a special 
announcement was also made to the authorities. Early in 
ovember of 1899 the representative of the Jewish Colonial Trust, 
r. . Kokesch, attorney to the Court and to courts of justice and 
r. Brecher of the banking house of I. & A. Brecher, Vienna, called 
on Baron Odkolek, departmental councillor in the Ministry of 
Finance. Dr. Kokesch informed Mr. Councillor of the founding of 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 907 

the Colonial Trust in London, as well as of the desire of the Board 
of Directors to have the banking firm of I. & A. Brecher serve as 
the subscription office in Vienna. Dr. Kokesch produced a share- 
allotment letter, and, referring to the fact that Baron Odkolek ha 
collaborated in drafting the law governing the sales tax on securi- 
ties, he asked him for information on this matter. Mr. Councillor 
stated he shared Dr. Kokesch’s opinion that no sales tax was payable 
on the letters of allotment, but that he could give no authoritative 
information until a written request had been made to the Ministry 
of Finance. 

The house of Brecher, which, incidentally, was to handle the 
matter without financial remuneration in view of the good cause, 
subsequently refused to act as subscription office for the Jewish 
Colonial Trust, and promised to establish business contact with 
the Bank only to the extent of accepting monies for it. After this 
decision on the part of the house of Brecher, the representative of 
the Jewish Colonial Trust regarded it as superfluous to direct a 
further written petition to the Ministry of Finance. 

The prohibition of subscriptions — against which an appeal has 
been made, to be sure — has now created a distressing situation. 
The subscribers have made part payments which the directors of 
the Bank are not authorized to refund. Thus it may happen pre- 
cisely because of this prohibition that the little people will lose 
their money. 

I am therefore taking the liberty of proposing this expedient: 
Those subscribers who have subscribed before the decree was 
made should be permitted to complete their payments and receive 
their shares. There will, of course, be no further subscription in 
Austria. And as soon as the Colonial Trust in London begins its 
operations, it will apply to be certified in Austria as well.” 

Through such an equitable measure any inconvenience would 

6 AftCr a11 ’ neither the subscribers nor the solicitors 

could have known that a subscription which was so abundantly 

&r, h ? a " emi0 " ° £ the aUthoriti “ >>e prohibited a 


908 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 

But there are probably political considerations also in favor of 
my most humble proposal. 

The Zionist movement undoubtedly has a salutary effect in 
countries with a large proletarian Jewish population. 

This is recognized even in Russian government circles. The 
masses that are so hard pressed by anti-Semitism would probably 
one and all join the extremist revolutionary parties unless Zionism 
showed them a hopeful solution of their sufferings. 

Our movement thus deserves to be assisted rather than impeded. 
But perhaps the purely fiscal prohibition of the subscription, 
which is directed only against the foreign joint-stock company, 
would be misunderstood by the crowd, which does not make such 
fine distinctions, as a political measure against Zionism. That 
would be extremely harmful to our movement. I do not believe 
that this is intended. 

A short time ago another member of the Council of the Colonial 
Trust, Mr. Oskar Marmorek, the architect, had an opportunity to 
discuss the matter with His Excellency the Governor, Count Kiel- 
mansegg, and received the assurance that the prohibition of the 
subscription was only fiscal and not political in nature, since 
the exalted Imperial government appreciated the humanitarian 
significance of our movement. I was very pleased to find a cor- 
roboration of this attitude in the friendly co-operativeness with 
which Your Excellency has honored me. 

If this good disposition is put into action in the way I have 
requested, something useful could certainly be promoted. Some 
day the Jewish Question will flare up in a terrible form in our 
country, especially in Galicia. One hears too many anti-Semitic 
remarks about the Jews and not enough about the despair brood- 
ing in these wretched masses. Gouvemer c'est prevoir [To govern 
is to foresee]. 

I believe in all modesty that the Imperial government which is 
headed by Your Excellency will not do a disservice to the monarchy 
if it undertakes to further, not impede, the Zionist movement. The 
people who are directing this movement are not interested in 
political posts, nor can they derive any personal advantage from it- 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 909 
I, seeks to help very poor people without a lot of verbiage. Per- 
haps that ought to be encouraged. 

With deep respect I remain 

Your Exellency’s very obedient servant, 
Dr. Th.H. 


March 5, Vienna 

Letter to the Grand Duke of Baden, to be transmitted by 
Hechler: 

Most Illustrious Grand Duke, 

Most Gracious Prince and Lord: 

Hoping for Your Royal Highness’ continued benevolence for 
our Zionist movement, I permit myself to report in a few words on 
the present situation of the cause. 

Unless everything deceives me, the moment suitable for action 
has come. The general international situation is favorable to it. 
At present the attention of rival Powers has been diverted from 
the Orient. Faits accomplis may be managed without arousing 
much opposition. Such a fait would be the one we have been pre- 
paring for so long. 

All the prerequisites are ready. With the greatest circumspection 
we have created an organization of our masses that is ready to move. 
At a signal hundreds of thousands would set themselves in motion. 
According to reliable reports from confidential agents I may esti- 
mate the number of colonists that we could get to Palestine within 
a few years at three to four million people. Coverage of the financial 
expense, which will be very substantial even at the beginning, is 
assured. The most important Powers are, if not actually favorably 
disposed, at least not hostile. As for Turkey, I have succeeded in 
gaining supporters of our cause in government circles. The deci- 
sion, to be sure, is in the sole hands of His Majesty the Sultan. At 
the end of December, 1 899, 1 was even expecting a summons to the 
Sultan at any time. The Ramadan interfered, and in the past few 


910 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

weeks things have quieted down again. Now, however, the historic 
opportunity seems to be one that demands decisions. 

With my accustomed respectful confidence I am turning to Your 
Royal Highness for advice and help. Two things would now be 
necessary to carry out the great plan. 

First, the personal support of His Majesty the German Kaiser 
with His Majesty the Sultan. From sources close to the latter I have 
been informed that such a step, which could — in fact, must- 
remain completely secret, could bring about the decisive turn. 

The Sultan would accept my proposals if his exalted friend 
presented them to him as worthy of consideration. 

Second, my audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Russia. 
This would have a dual purpose. For one thing, it would let the 
masses in Russia see that our movement is being favored. 

Also, the Turkish government would realize from it that it need 
fear no objection from that quarter if it contracts for a Charter 
with us. 

The Charter which I would submit at Constantinople after hav- 
ing made sure at each separate point of the consent of Your Royal 
Highness and His Majesty the German Kaiser shall have as its 
subject the colonization of Palestine and the administration of the 
settled area. I am in a position to provide Turkey with great 
financial benefits in return for this. 

No one will find out that the entire matter is under the control 
and protection of Germany until His Majesty the German Kaiser 
decides the moment for this has come. 

A German protectorate would be created, without any sacrifice, 
without any risk. Asia Minor under German influence! 

The question is whether I enjoy the personal confidence of 
being discreet, loyal, and energetic enough to carry the matter 
through in this spirit. 

There are people who calculate all too prosaically and to whom 
the whole plan seems fantastic. But there has also been a narrow 
Brandenburg view to which Prussia seemed a fantasy, and a narrow 
Prussian view to which Germany seemed so. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 911 

The prince who was one of the architects of the miraculous 
German edifice cannot be of this opinion. 

With deepest respect and loyal gratitude, I remain 

Your Royal Highness’ most obedient servant, 
Dr.Th.H. 


Letter to Kann: 


March 8, Vienna 


Strictly confidential. 

Dear Mr. Kann: 

I will not conceal from you that it costs me an effort to write to 
you. In your letters to me you have repeatedly struck the wrong 
note, and only recently you gave Loewe a countermanding order 
when he informed you that a meeting had been called. According 
to Article 65 only the Council is authorized to do this, quite apart 
from the fact that the meeting of the Viennese directors consented 
to it. 

The purpose of the meeting is to rectify one of the many careless 
mistakes that have been made in the Bank. Only during the local 
discussions in February was it discovered that according to English 
law a shareholder can demand the liquidation of the Bank if the 
Bank does not start operations within a year, that is, by March 
20th. 

To guard against this threatening danger, we decided to amend 
the by-laws to permit the circulation of checks even before the 
£250,000 have been paid. This is the purpose of our meeting. 

Through Loewe’s well-known incompetence and recalcitrance, 
holding the meeting in time has virtually been frustrated. In this 
emergency I have hit upon the following expedient which can only 
be carried out by you. This is why I am writing you. 

We would have to find one or more bankers who will immedi- 
ately subscribe shares in the amount lacking from £250,000. The 
money — about £170,000 — which comes in thus is again deposited 


912 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

with the same bankers, and in such a way that they earn i j 
or ll A% on For this purpose you would have to go to London 
immediately and persuade Seligmann, or speak with Dutch 
bankers. 

You will find the suitable method better than I can. 

The shares subscribed by the Bankers will either be offered for 
sale or exchanged for the shares (over 300,000 of them) subscribed 
by the instalment buyers after full payment has been made. 

I expect to hear from you by telegram whether or not you will 
or can carry this out. 

The deal involves absolutely no risk for the bankers and will 
yield them a certain clear profit of 1 to 1 1/£%. 

With kind regards, 
Th. Herzl. 


March 9, Vienna 

Yesterday this visiting card came by pneumatic-tube mail: 

Ernst von Koerber, 

Imperial-Royal Prime Minister 

asks Euer Hochwohlgeboren* kindly to call on him tomorrow, 
Friday, at 9 o’clock in the morning at the Ministry of the Interior. 
Pardon the early hour, but my time is completely taken up all day. 

* * # 

Naturally I was there punctually, as I had been the first time, 
and was received by Koerber with the same amiable ceremoni- 
ousness. After I had been seated on the sofa and had lit my cigar> 
he began by sighing over the Vienna question. He said he had done 
all he could in the way of an electoral reform for Vienna; he was 
truly no anti-Semite, but was now being made out one by the 

•Translators Note: Archaic form of address, used mainly for higher-placed 
members of the middle-class. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 913 

Liberals. (In today’s Neue Freie Presse there is an editorial on the 
subject from the pen of little Community Councillor Stem) 

Then he turned to my subject. He had fetched the file and read 
to me. N aturally the government could do nothing else but proceed 
according to the law; but my proposal contained an acceptable 
solution, and they wanted to go along with it by “looking the other 
way.” These were his words. The only condition was that none of 
it be done in public. Nothing must be reported in the papers; but 
the subscribers could be informed directly that they would be 
permitted to complete their payments and receive their shares. 
I offered to submit an appropriate circular to him. He accepted; he 
would then speak with the governors of Lower Austria and Galicia 
so that the prohibition would be lifted. 

I thanked him for his obligingness. Then, amid renewed sighs 
over the Viennese question he saw me out into the ante-chamber, 
which caused a sensation among the valetaille [staff]. 

I am now writing him: 

Your Excellency: 

I am taking the liberty of submitting, as an enclosure, the draft 
of the circular which is to be sent to the Austrian subscribers to the 
Jewish Colonial Trust. 

What Your Excellency said in conclusion about the Viennese 
difficulty has been going around in my head. I believe that there 
are expedients about which something could be said as soon as I 
again have the honor to be summoned. 

It is possible, but not yet definite, that I shall have to leave town 
on Sunday — for three or four days. Therefore I should like to 
request with due respect that any summons to an audience be 
conveyed to me not by pneumatic-tube mail, but by a messenger 
who would learn then and there whether I am here. Naturally 
1 would get in touch with you immediately upon my return. 

With deep respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, 
Dr. Th. H. 


914 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

March 14, Vienna 

Yesterday Oskar Marmorek told me that Alex had succeeded 
with his attempts to cure tuberculosis in humans. It is such a colos- 
sal thing that I am skeptical. For the sake of that good soul and 
most high-minded man Alex, as well as for humanity, but most of 
all for the sake of Zionism, I wish it would turn out to be true. 

Today I wrote Alex about the possible utilization of his dis- 
covery for the promotion of our movement, perhaps through turn- 
ing the exploitation over to the Bank. 

* * * 

The Bank continues to cause me great concern. Kann is refrac- 
tory, gives counter-orders, disputes the validity of the Vienna board 
meeting, because he was not there. In short, he impudently acts 
the part of the head of the Bank, because he knows that we have 
absolutely no one else. 

However, according to information from the secretary Loewe, 
who, to be sure, is incompetent and unreliable, there is no danger 
of an official liquidation, although operations will not be started 
by March 20th. 

Since the inefficiency of our offices has made it impossible to hold 
the meetings of the general assembly as scheduled in order to make 
the change in the by-laws, I have to let things take their course 
and stand by with arms folded. 

My task now is to find a manager who is dependent on myself 
alone, as well as a house to replace Lissa & Kann in the public sale 
of the shares. Then Kann, who has mutinied, must get out. 

* # # 

Several telegrams have come from Hechler who has been gone 
for almost a week now. 

The Grand Duke received him well; my letter has had an effect. 
I should come to Karlsruhe right away. 

Since I am acquainted with Hechler’s illusions, I first wired back 

asking whether it was the Grand Duke or he who wished me to 
come. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 915 

Answer: he (Hechler) did. However, the Grand Duke wanted 
to help. 

So I asked him to procure for me, if at all possible, an introduc- 
tion to the Sultan from the Kaiser personally. This would assure 
me of the audience I need. Then I could go to Constantinople. 

Hechler wired back that Uncle (Grand Duke) felt one ought to 
go easy with the nephew (Kaiser). However, the letter of recom- 
mendation had not been denied. Apparently Uncle is willing, but 
doesn’t know whether Berlin will be. Billow can again do good or 
harm. 

Recently Sigmund Miinz of the Neue Freie Presse was in Berlin 
and had dinner at Billow’s house. Billow inquired about me and 
asked how things stood with Zionism. Miinz wasn’t able to give 
him any information. To Miinz’s counter-question as to what our 
chances were Biilow, on his part, gave no answer. 

However, I consider the general situation — England tied up in 
South Africa, Russia reaching for Persia — as favorable to us. 

We shall see what truth there is in Hechler's telegram from 
Karlsruhe of March 13: 

Have just returned from Uncle; he will write and report to 
Constantinople and to nephew. Please prepare proposal (i.e., 
Charter). 

The main thing about it is that my line to Berlin hasn’t been cut 
yet. Pour le reste — attendre [For the rest — wait] ! 


March 17, Vienna 

Yesterday the following card came: 

Ernst von Koerber 

begs to request Euer Hochwohlgeboren, if your time permits, 
kindly to call on him on Monday the 19th at 9 o’clock in the morn- 
ing at the Ministry of the Interior. 


916 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 
S hall not fail to. 

But more interesting is this letter sent by pneumatic tube: 


Vienna, March 16, 1900 

Dear Doctor Herzl: 

Will you have lunch with me tomorrow, Saturday, at 1 o’clock? 
An acceptance would please me greatly. 

Very sincerely yours, 

B. Eulenburg-Hertefeld. 


I have had almost no contact with Eulenburg in 1 1/ 2 years. This 
invitation seems to be a consequence of Hechler’s expedition— 
unless, grotesquely, it refers to tomorrow’s benefit matinee which 
is taking place under Prince Eulenburg’s sponsorship. 

Vederemo [We shall see]! 

* # * 

With these things on my mind, today I am supposed to do a 
funny little write-up of the fashion show for the N. Fr. Pr.l Clown* 
and Leader* rolled into one. 

Moses had an easier time of it. 


March 18, Vienna 

The luncheon* at Eulenburg’s was just a luncheon* The others 
present were Count Piickler, Captain of Cavalry von Biilow, an- 
other attach^, also Frei the physician and Dr. Friedjung. 

Conversation informal but refined. 

Eulenburg told a story about Prince George of Prussia. While 
traveling he was accidentally locked into his hotel room by his 
• In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 917 

valet, got a belly-ache, screamed loudly for help, but wasn’t 
liberated until — it was too late. 

After that I told a story about the Austrian Parliament. A 
Polish deputy wanted to say: “Serves Prince Lichtenstein right 
on the school bill; why did he reject our water bill?” but said in- 
stead: “Serves right to him; why didn’t he pass water?”* 

Apart from these risqud things, our conversation was usually 

very refined. 

I sat at Eulenburg’s right. After lunch he drew me aside. I told 
him that I had intended to call on him one of these days anyway, 
and sketched the situation, approximately as in my letter to the 
Grand Duke. I am only afraid that Friedjung may have caught 
some of it. 

We finally agreed that Eulenburg would send for me shortly. 

* * * 

Letter from Crespi, dated March 15. 

They say they are working. I should write a fresh letter, which 
would go via Izzet Bey and in which I state the purpose of the 
audience more clearly. 

Accordingly I am writing the following letter.** 

Your Excellency: 

You are probably familiar with the letter I sent to my friend in 
which I outlined the considerable advantages of Jewish immigra- 
tion to Palestine. I am firmly convinced that His Majesty the 
Sultan’s lofty wisdom would appreciate the fortunate opportunities 
of the Zionist plan if I were allowed to explain it at the foot of the 
throne. All that I have heard about His Majesty’s great qualities of 
mind and heart leads me to believe that he will become the ardent 
friend and protector of the Zionist undertaking, which is useful 
to the Ottoman Empire and beneficent to the persecuted Jews. 

I have, then, the honor to beg you to procure an audience for 
me with H.I.M. The purpose of this audience would be to explain 

• Translator's Note: Recht ihm so, warum hat er Wasser abgeschlagen 7 

••In French in the original. 


918 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

our plan in all sincerity and trust and to propose the forms and 
the means of executing it, as well as the financial services we wish 
to render His Majesty’s government. 

Those things can only be dealt with orally. There is the matter 
of rather large sums which I have mentioned to my friend. If the 
Empire needs a fleet — here are the means to obtain it without 
Europe’s being able to prevent you and without onerous or difficult 
conditions. On the contrary, the result would be an increase in the 
country’s wealth and an increase of H.M.’s loyal subjects. The 
agreement to be reached is so beneficial to Turkey that that is per- 
haps the very reason for delay and suspicion. One might suspect 
that something mysterious or dangerous was concealed behind it. 

Well, there is something behind it: the moral and political 
misery of the Jewish people which requires a relief that we are rich 
enough to pay for. 

Let me have the favor of an interview with the Caliph — and 
God will put arguments to convince His Majesty in my mouth. 

If he consents, it will be the finest page of his glorious reign, the 
greatest benefit he has procured both for his Empire and for the 
unhappy Jews who will place themselves under his protection 
while bringing him innumerable advantages of every kind. 

If H.M. wishes to find out about my character and the usefulness 
of my plan to Turkey — nothing is easier. 

I have the great honor of being known to His Majesty the 
Emperor of Germany. Let H.M. the Sultan deign to learn about 
me from his powerful friend. 

Take action, Your Excellency, to procure the audience which 
I request, take action in the interest of your beloved sovereign, of 
your beautiful country, and of the unhappy people whom I rep- 
resent. Already they are beginning to be impatient; leaders are 
rising to launch other projects: settlement in Cyprus, emigration 
to America, since Turkey does not want to come to an understand- 
ing with usl 

Who knows — perhaps it will be realized too late that an oppor- 
tunity has been missed; and your Moslem enemies who are working 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 919 

abroad against the existing government will forge a new weapon 
from the fact that you have let such a chance escape you. 

I still hope that this last appeal I am sending you will be listened 
to To sum up: procure me the favor of an audience with your 
venerated sovereign; I have confidence in his magnanimity and 
in his grasp of important matters. 

With my profound respects to Your Excellency, 

Dr.Th.H. 


March 20, Vienna 

Remarkable the way one gets used even to Prime Ministers. 
Yesterday I forgot to enter that I was with Koerber again. He 
received me charmingly, as usual, handed me the settlement the 
way I had desired it, and expressed the expectation that at a more 
opportune moment we would come back to the “admission to 
this country” of the Colonial Trust. 

He would invite me to his house some evening soon, so that we 
might discuss the domestic political situation, particularly his 
apparent, unfortunately forced yielding to the anti-Semites. 

"I am certainly not an anti-Semite,” he said. At the door I told 
him: “Your Excellency, I believe you will be in power for a long 
time!” 

He gave me a grateful smile for this prophecy and showed me 
out through the ante-chamber where the governor of Silesia had 
had to wait until our conversation was finished, although he had 
arrived at the same time as I had. 


March 25, Vienna 

I am not only a ‘Clown,’ but also a servant or an office boy at the 
N. Fr. Pr. 

Only now does it occur to me to document the experience which 
I had a few days ago. 

I told Benedikt in Bacher’s room that an engineer was asking for 


920 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

a manuscript that he had submitted for our “Communications" 
section. Benedikt said he didn’t know where the manuscript was 
I: “I’m sure you have it.” 

He gave a start: “How dare you speak to me this way?” 

I said (quite calmly): “I am saying that you must have the manu- 
script; I sent it to you through Klinenberger.” 

He (grimly): “I know nothing about it.” 

I: “You must have it.” 

He: “How do you know that?” 

I: “I assume that Kl. didn’t lie to me.” 

He: “You assumel . . . But I don’t want you to use that tone 
toward me. I don’t want that!” 

I turned my back to him, stepped to the window — and he ran 
into his office. He came back a moment later and said meekly: ‘ I’ve 
found the manuscript.” 

I didn’t bother to reply. 

Then we turned to the subject of the novel. The Ohnet serial 
had been completed and no new one was on hand. I declined 
responsibility, because so far I had not been put in charge of this 
department. 

I said rudely: “I have to be told in advance what is wanted.” 
From this he noticed that I was angry. I went to my room. 
Three minutes later he came running after me, whining like a 
cowed cur. 

Just as the insult had only been in the tone of voice before, the 
miserable beg-your-pardon now was also only in the tone. 

I sensed immediately that he wanted to give me something to 
put me in a good mood. 

Sure enough: he came in with Bacher and asked me for my 
tg-year-old, bad youthful novelette Hagenau for the serial section. 
I gave it to him, but without signing my name to it. 18 years ago 
I went peddling this manuscript to the smallest papers; now it 
appears in the Neue Freie Presse under the title Die Heimkehr 
(The Homecoming), by H. Jungmann. 

Two things are apparent from this experience. 

1. That Benedikt hates me, even though he is coward enough 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 921 
tremble at the consequences. He considers himself the big boss 

’Xfitdoesn’t do any harm if people have a low opinion of 
m#»f him? After 18 years a piece of obscure trash is raised to tame 
r„n r Ze^ow then, wd, ~ — -be derided lewish Statel 


Koerber has again sent for me for tomorrow morning. Now I 
don’t know whether this is in reference to the domestic situation 
and the N. Fr. Pr. (which I would prefer) or to the arrest of a 
Galician share-subscription solicitor which was reported to me 
from Kolomea today. 


March 27, Vienna, 1 1 : 30 at night 

The last 36 hours were again interesting. Because of the re- 
hearsal of Gretel and my work at the office I found no time during 
the day to enter these memorable incidents. 

At nine o’clock yesterday morning I was with Koerber. It was 
not about the subscription, but about sanctioning the Viennese 
electoral reform. 

He greeted me with amiability and embarrassment: “So this is 
the day on which the bomb goes off.” 

I again had to seat myself on the by now familiar sofa and light 
the customary cigar, whereupon he presented his request to me. 
Oh yes, the Prime Minister of Austria had a request to make: the 
Neue Freie Presse should not make too much of a row about the 
electoral reform. Of course, it would have to come out in opposi- 
tion— he realized that; but it should not strike too massively. 

I briefly explained to him that he need not worry too much about 
the Platonic demonstrations of the Liberals and their papers. But 
should the situation grow more serious, more alarming, I might 
be in a position to come to his aid. 

In the AT. Fr. Pr., I said, I was next in line to succeed Bacher; 

acher himself had already agreed to it in December of ’99, and 


922 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

this had run aground only on Benedikt's opposition. When the 
hour came, I might force a showdown with Benedikt. 

He was visibly impressed. Then I said that he should fi Rt 
publish an unofficial presentation of his non-antisemitic motives 
for sanctioning the reform of the Vienna municipal elections. 

He said he had already written one for the Wiener Abendpost 

“May I see it?” I asked. 

He immediately went out, got the release, and showed me into 
an adjoining room where I was to look through the manuscript. 
Then he troubled himself to get me a pencil and left me alone, 
while he used the time to receive someone. 

I now went through the release and found some things to 
criticize, which I told him about when he returned. I thought that 
he left himself wide open with the passage: “The electoral reform 
means no serious encroachment on any part of the electorate.” He 
immediately crossed out the phrase “serious encroachment,” and 
at my suggestion he changed this to “. . . partisanship for any 
part, etc.” 

Two other places he changed without further ado on my say-so. 

Then he showed me out the back way. 

After that I went to the Raimundtheater for the rehearsal, and 
from there, in the afternoon, to the office. 

Benedikt already knew about the sanction. But I advised him 
not to make too sharp an attack on Koerber, who, I said, was a better 
Minister for the Jews than one of the Bohemian feudalists. 

However, to play safe, I went to the office again in the evening, 
in order to influence Benedikt before he wrote his article. While 
we were talking about it, Koerber’s private secretary telephoned 
him and invited him to call on Koerber at his private residence. 

I had an unpleasant feeling when Benedikt told me this. What if 
Koerber gave him the substance of our conversation to make 
Benedikt more favorably disposed toward himself? 

I was very worried and, although it was ten o’clock, drove to 
Koerber s private residence. In a coffee house I bought an envelope, 
put my visiting card in it and sent it up by the superintendents 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 923 
wile. I waited in the carriage. The woman came back and said the 

Prime Minister was not home yet. 

I spent a bad evening. At first I was going to write him th 
I counted on his discretion. Overnight counsel came to me in my 
sleep, as usual. Writing is always tricky. I decided to go to see him 
at the Ministry, as I had on the previous occasions. 

I was there at 9 o’clock and was admitted after only a few minutes 
of waiting. He came toward me beaming. The article in the Neue 
Freie Presse suited him just fine. He had been on the point of writ- 
ing me a letter of thanks. Now that I was here, there probably was 
no need for it. He hoped that we would remain in contact— “in 
amicable contact,” he added, and repeatedly pumped my hand. 
Now there began a one-hour conversation in which he spoke 




dons with the Emperor. 

His position, he said, was basically different from, and better 
than, that of his predecessors who had never dared to say No to the 
Emperor.* “The Emperor don’t dare to talk to me like he did to 
Badeni or Thun, ’cause he thinks I’m gonna resign on him. The 
previous Prime Ministers, they always had kittens if four days 
gone by without their gettin’ called to an audience. Why, they 
thought right away: I’m in dutch. Me, I’m not pushin’ my way in. 
I do my job, and he knows I do. He sends me Schiessl to ask if 
I ain’t too busy — Sometimes I talk ’im outa somethin’ he wants to 
do, but so that he don’t catch on to the reason. F’r instance, he was 
gonna invite the deputies to court dinner, one by one. Now I 
t’ought to myself, he can invite two dozen of ’em, at most. So who 
are you gonna take? Them that you don’t invite, they’re gonna be 
gunnin’ for me. And another thing — the Emperor, he’s startin’ to 
get talkative as he gets older. He tells them deputies or delegates 
anything that happens to come into his head. Then the embarrass- 


lransiators Note: KoeTber spoke in the Viennese dialect, and Herzl took the 

houble to reprodiice it faithfully. Essentially, this dialect, which was and is spoken 

with zest by most Viennese from governors to garbage men, professors to proletarians, 

in Fn^ n ? a L ab An a “ empt has been made here to achieve a similarly relaxed tone 

a low ed^il U n USt i ° U \ that thi * ,an S ua S e d <** not necessarily denote 

a low educational level on the part of the speaker. 


924 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

ment is there. Well, so I tole him why don’t cha put off them court 
dinners for them deputies till October, then we can invite them 
one by one. But I t’ink by then the critical period’s gonna be over” 

And in this tone of complete confidence he spoke about a lot of 
other things: About Badeni, whose mendaciousness and cowardice 
he described drastically; about the Lobkowitzes and Schwarzen- 
bergs, and many others de moindre importance [of less impor- 
tance]. 

He was visibly concerned about making a good impression upon 
me, which he managed to do. 

I repeated to him my prognostication that he would head the 
government for a long time. 

Among other things he confided in me that when the Reichstag 
reconvened he would submit the new language bill. I placed 
myself at his disposal in case he wanted to have the draft examined 
in advance by an unprejudiced eye. He immediately agreed; he 
also wanted to give me the argumentation to read. 

Although he was called away by the court secretary (or was this 
only an attempted rescue such as is arranged systematically?) he 
continued talking to me for over an hour, and then dismissed me 
most amiably. 

The lackeys in the ante-chamber were greatly astonished at the 
long favor. 


April 9 

Nordau sends an “open letter’’ to Rumanian Jewry for publica- 
tion in the Welt. He counsels purement et simplement [purely and 
simply] to migrate in groups of 100 people, and by stages. Without 
authorization, without resources. 

Le geste est beau [The gesture is fine] — but it would produce a 
desastre [disaster]. 

For the time being I am not having the letter printed. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 


925 


Letter to Koerber. 


April 9, 1900 


Your Excellency: 

In connection with our last conversation I beg to Onform you .that 
I shall not be here from the 16th of this month to ay ' . . 

fore if Your Excellency would like to know my humble opinion 
of the draft for a language bill, I would ask you to summon me 
prior to Easter Sunday. I believe that a few carefully worked words 
to introduce the bill— a sursum corda [lift up your hearts]! to the 
pe0 ple — could work wonders this time. 

Should the draft not be made public until after May 2, I shall 
then naturally be at your disposal at any time. 

With the deepest respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Dr.Th.H. 


April 14 

Koerber had written me that he wished to speak to me even 
before my departure, and had given me an appointment for yester- 
day at noon. 

At 12 o’clock I was in the Ministry of the Interior. Koerber 
came toward me in gala dress. “On account of you I have stayed all 
dressed up. After church I didn’t have time to go home, otherwise 
I would’ve had to keep you waitin’. . . Then he came to the 
point, after he had once more installed me on the sofa and given 
me the regulation cigar. 

I’ve got the language bill done, but haven’t finished the argu- 
ment to support it. Can’t show that to you till you get back. Where 
are Y a g°in anyway? Paris? I’d like to get away, too, but, gee, I 
can t. I m tied down from morning’ to evenin’. Like yesterday, 
see, I get home for lunch, and they phone me to come and see 
Archduke Franz. Well, I didn’t dash right out. First I had a spoon- 
ful 0’ soup an’ a hunk o’ meat. After that I went to see ’im— you 


926 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 

know, on ‘count of’ the weddin’. Well; and so I sat with him 
hour and a half. After that a couple of hours with Goluchowski 
In the evenin’, soon ’s I get home, I find papers layin’ there again 
waitin’ for me. Well, so I kept on working until one in the ayemm 
An I get up at five in the momin’l Today to church again at ha’ 

past nine (Good Friday) and stayed till ha’ past ’leven. After that 
you’re dead.” 

I mutely commiserated with him. 

“See,” he continued, “it’s all like that with us. Ain’t got no 
seriousness. Everybody’s senile. They don’t think anythin’ over 
first. That’s the way it is with that business about Archduke Franz. 
If you re a Prince, an Archduke, why, then you can’t do what you 
please. With them people you never know in advance whether it’s 
serious. Maybe he’s gonna send her packin’ again after it’s over. 
An Archduke’s gotta be considerate. If he goes and marries a com- 
moner, this can harm the monarchic principle. He’s gettin’ rela- 
tives from his wife s side and they’re gonna have an influence, 
at s why they always cut off them princesses from the world like 

that, so no one could get at ’em, so there’d be no influences from 
that side. 

We just am t got no seriousness in anything! ’Mong the people 
same as with the authorities. D’you think I can rely on a governor? 

aven t got a one. Could you name me one gov’nor? I don’t know 
none. Then why do I keep the gen’lmen? ’Cause I ain’t got any 

ot er, that s why. Can t be every place at once — and they don’t 
do a blessed thing.” 

I permitted myself to remark: “That’s due to the way the gentle- 
men are recruited. Young fellows from good families, who then 
simply are promoted.” 

There s no initiative,” he complained. 

But this can perhaps be remedied,” I said. “The governors 
cou d be given secret instructions on how they are to improve the 
attitude of the people. I believe the dissolution of the Reichsrat 
wi come. At least, that’s the way it seems to me.” 

He nodded. To me, too. If I could give you some inside 
ope. . . ” He let it peep out that he had the Imperial instruc- 



THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 927 

tions in his pocket. “It’s only on account of Galicia. If it comes to 
an election, there’s gonna be a bloodbath in Galicia.” 

“Things would simply have to be prepared in advance. In 
Galicia there are a large number of Jews on whom influence could 
be exerted.” 

“Yes, but ain’t they Socialists?” he asked. 

“One could drive a wedge into that,” I said, without mentioning 
Zionism. “I might be able to help you with this, Your Excel- 
lency! ... In general, it would be a matter of establishing con- 
tact with the people over the heads of the professional politicians. 
Even when the language bills are made public the coming dissolu- 
tion of the Reichsrat ought to be kept in mind and the present 
Parliament put in the wrong. Economic necessity should be 
emphasized, as well as the fact that the language disputes are under- 
mining the existence of the state as well as of the individual prov- 
inces. A modem program, a program for the public welfare, is 
needed. It would have to be popular, appeal to the imagination. 
New, meaningful slogans ought to be circulated, instead of the 
worn-out ones of the language politicians. The government has 
the means for it sooner than the parties. In the secret instructions 
to the governors, it should be explained to the gentlemen how they 
have to prepare their elections. The formation of an economic 
party should be brought about and encouraged. New men should 
be brought in from the circles of merchants, industrialists, sci- 
entists, jurists, physicians, including the heads of the cooperative 
societies, etc. The first step would be to make a list of those men, 
who should preferably be recruited from outside the existing 
organized groups of politicians. The governors would have to try 
to establish contact with them directly or indirectly. Some will do 
it for the sake of profit or distinction, others out of true seriousness; 
many will already feel honored by merely being brought in. A 
soiree [dinner party], a rout [social gathering] may suffice in some 
cases. In short, practical conciliation by association.” 

I could tell by the expression on his face, which had originally 
mirrored Austrian unconcern and now became pensive and deeply 



928 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZi 

interested, that he was gripped. He now urged me to look him u 
right after my return, as well as to write him on my trip. F 

I offered to compose the Sursum Corda to the peoples of Austria 
which he acknowledged with a grateful smile and a handshake. 

“Of course,” I said, “this will remain between us.” 

Minister Baron Call was announced. I arose, and he took an 
even more cordial leave of me than usual. He told me to be sure to 
be here again on the 2 nd of May. 

I am handling Koerber a bit the way Scheherazade did the Shah. 
After each conversation he wants to see me again, because I bring 
him something. 

What I want is truly nothing bad, neither in the means nor in 
the end. 

By means of the pacification of Austria, in which I am secretly 
participating, without ambition or desire for gain, I wish to im- 
prove the lot of the Jews and solve the Jewish Question. Does 
Koerber understand me? 


April 18 , on the train from Karlsruhe to Paris 

Have again been to Karlsruhe to see the good Grand Duke. 
Today s conversation with him was, politically speaking, by far 
the most interesting of all the talks I have had with him over the 
years, just as from the point of view of result it was the most 
meaningless — in fact, a downright refusal on the part of Germany. 

By now I already know this ante-chamber, too, its lackeys, its 
general in charge, von Muller, and its historical family portraits, 
so that I waited in the red salon less agitated than ever. Nothing 
has changed there since I was here for the first and for the last time. 
Against the background of all the inanimate things, the good 
Grand Duke happily has not changed; on the stroke of eleven he 
came through the door of his study to meet me and welcomed me 
with a long handshake. 

This time we stayed in the red salon whose damask furniture, as 
I could not help noticing, had become a bit threadbare. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 929 

I opened the encounter with a presentation of the state of affairs, 
something like what I had given in my letter of March 5 th. 

I had been quite surprised when upon my entrance the good 
Grand Duke had expressly thanked me for my letter “of March 
5 th.” I had happened to read said letter of March 5 th in the morn- 
ing at the hotel, in order to prepare myself for the conversation, so 
that I knew what he was talking about. To the considerations 
which made the present moment seem suitable to me for a 
campaign in Constantinople I added the Paris Exposition and the 
resulting desire for peace on the part of France. 

I sketched a picture of the situation in condensed brevity, 
whereupon the Grand Duke took the floor. 

Things were different, he said. Precisely the South African War 
in its present state was a danger to Germany — in fact, to world 
peace. The moment could come when England would realize that 
it could not cope with the Boers. Then they might cast about for a 
pretext to leave the Transvaal, because “more important interests 
are at stake.” 

Even now England probably was avid for a diversion in the 
direction where her power was still unimpaired and superior. She 
would beware of tangling with Russia; France, too, was too strong 
for her on the seas. On the other hand, she might not be disinclined 
to hurl herself at Germany, which was still incapable of defending 
itself on the seas and offered an important area of attack through 
its magnificently increasing commerce. 

During this exposition I had a strong impression. Someone was 
speaking out of the Grand Duke’s mouth, and it was German 
policy itself. The kindness, particularly the kindness of telling me 
these things, was that of the Grand Duke, but the data, the reports 
of the attitudes from all cabinets, as well as the thinking that 
summed it all up in strong arguments, were obviously the work of 
German ambassadors and of Biilow. 

Germany was now avoiding complications in general, said the 
Grand Duke, and especially anything that could give England an 
excuse for making the trouble she was looking for. That is why 
Ambassador Radolin at St. Petersburg, whose recall had been 


930 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

rumored, was given a decoration just so he could stay. That is wh - 
the ailing London ambassador was not being replaced; that is wh 
the aged Munster was staying on in Paris, just for the sake of 
quieta non movere [not stirring up things when they are quiet] 

Strangely enough, Germany feels threatened by England’s South 
African defeats. I would never have drawn this conclusion from the 
situation. From the Grand Duke’s statements I saw it with clarity 
I also sensed that my “letter of March 5th” had been the subject 
of investigation and action on the part of German diplomacy. 1 
further conclude from it that Eulenburg didn’t just happen to 
invite me to have lunch with Friedjung and Frei. Perhaps the 
other two Jews were invited only so that I might see nothing very 
special in it after the long silence. 

I must admit now that there is something to the Grandducal 
and German reasoning. 

Germany s sea surface [area] is enormous, and its capacity for 
defending it, as the Grand Duke says, infinitesimally small. “We 
would be in no position to defend ourselves against a blockade. 
It will be 15 years before our fleet is ready. However, our com- 
merce and our industry are expanding daily, in a way which is as 
gratifying as it is alarming.” 

He now adduced a number of highly interesting data which 
attested to his statesmanlike seriousness and his fine, faithful 
sovereign’s concern. 

Industry, he said, was draining agriculture of its strength. At 
the construction of a harbor — I forget, where — only Italian 
workers were used. Recently 3000 Italians had come into the 
country via Lucerne. In the army, too, the manpower shortage was 
making itself felt. Serviceable non-commissioned officers did not 
want to stay. ‘Give me three marks a day,” says one of them, “and 
1 11 stay. Here in Karlsruhe there was a cartridge-case factory in 
which the female workers earned five to eight marks a day. Thus, 
everywhere the most auspicious prosperity, and with it a way of 
life that has remained constant— but the neighbors cast a covetous 
eye at this prosperity. 

As it was, in England there was great dissatisfaction with the 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 931 

progress Germany had made in industry and world trade. The 
English would be glad, he said, if they could pick some holes in us. 
France and Russia could only encourage that. And if our industry, 
our maritime commerce and merchant marine went to ruin, it 

would suit the Englishmen just fine. 

This danger of a naval war, with its possibilities of economic 
ruin and the destruction of so many people’s livelihood, was one of 
the German government’s greatest worries. Despite the German 
land power they were exposed to such a great danger, and the 
only alliance which might promise a certain security was perhaps 
with America. 

At any rate, the greatest caution was imperative, and they could 
not expose themselves to the possibility that England might use a 
German protectorate in Palestine as a pretext to turn from South 
Africa to “this more important problem.” 

One bright spot in this situation, however, was the imminent 
visit of Emperor Franz Joseph to Berlin. 

“I have discussed Austrian politics with you on earlier occasions, 
and, as you may remember, my judgment was not always a favor- 
able one. I am all the more pleased to be able to tell you that a turn 
for the better has now occurred. Emperor Franz Joseph, for whom 
I personally have the greatest sympathy, has not always had the 
happiest policy. We are now very happy that he is getting back on 
the right road. 

“The Emperor’s visit, of course, is not only private in nature, as 
has been remarked; it is, rather, a political visit. The Triple Alli- 
ance, which had already fallen to pieces, will come into being 
again with renewed strength. Italy, too, has already announced a 
visit when the Crown Prince comes of age. 

“I think Emperor Franz Joseph will be satisfied with his trip. He 
will return invigorated, something he probably can use. 

“Despite all personal predilection for Emperor Franz Joseph, I 
must say that we did not get much out of the alliance with him. 

“However, we certainly want to maintain Austria in its present 
existence. But this does not also mean that we encourage certain 


932 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZi 


efforts aiming at incorporating Austria’s German malcontents into 
Germany. We reject this idea. 

“Now, to return to your matter: while we are in no position now 
to recommend you at Constantinople, Austria is well able to do so 
After his return from Berlin the recommendation of the Austrian 
Emperor will carry greater weight than would have been the case 
previously, or even now. The two Emperors of Central Europe do 
mean a great deal more now.” 

I had mentioned to him my relationship with Koerber, saying 
that I believed I could obtain a recommendation to the Sultan 
through him. But I thought that Austria’s foreign policy was under 
Catholic influence; and the Curia probably was not favorable to 
the Zionist plan. To be sure, I had also spun some threads in this 
direction. I mentioned the letters from Rome which Baron Glei- 
chen-Russwurm (Schiller’s grandson) had written me concerning 
his occasional talks with church dignitaries about the Zionist Ques- 
tion. I had also mentioned the fact that I had recruited adherents 
to our cause in the circle around the Sultan. To the Grand Duke’s 
question about their identity I replied: 

I cannot keep anything secret from Your Royal Highness. It is 
Nuri Bey.” 

Whereupon the Grand Duke put his hand on his heart and said: 
You may be certain of my discretion.” 

However, Germany did not wish to expose herself under any 

circumstances, and the German ambassador could not undertake 
anything. 


I should get myself recommended to the Sultan by Austria. Since 
the Bagdad Railroad Russia’s stock had been highest with Turkey. 
They had tried to make the Sultan understand that it was better 
not to rely on one friend (Germany) that was demanding such 
concessions for itself. Now Russian influence was overwhelming in 
Constantinople. 

“When are you going to Constantinople?” he finally asked. 

I don t know yet, Your Royal Highness! I am going to London 
first. I shall try to speak with Lord Salisbury if the South African 
worries leave his head free for other things. Perhaps I can get him 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 933 

interested in Zionism. The purely Zionist idea, without German 
protection, numbers many friends in England. Particularly in the 
Church; and it surely has social influence, perhaps polmcal influ- 

enceaswell.” 

He nodded in agreement. 

“If I succeeded in winning over Lord Salisbury, would there 
then be more of a chance that Germany would intervene in our 


worry.” 

“In that case,” said the Grand Duke, “it would also be a matter 
of convincing Count Biilow of it. 

“Count Biilow unfortunately is an opponent of Zionism,” I said. 

“He is just cautious,” said the Grand Duke, “and, after all, he 
has to be.” 

“But what if I could induce Lord Salisbury to send word to Ber- 
lin, perhaps even in writing, that he had nothing against our plan 
—would there then not be a modification of Germany’s attitude in 


our favor?” 

“Yes, that might be something different.” 

“I shall take the liberty of making a report if anything note- 
worthy can be achieved in London. In other instances, too, despite 
the present unfavorable situation, I should like to ask permission 
to inform Your Royal Highness when we take a step forward or 
backward.” 

“I hope it will never be backward! I am glad to see with what 
perseverance you are pursuing your great work.” 

“I have to, Your Royal Highness, if I want to accomplish any- 
thing. Let us hope we shall live to see it!” 

“You will, 7 won’t!” said the Grand Duke with a smile. “I admire 
you for the way you persevere despite your adversaries. Particu- 
larly among your co-religionists do you have opponents. Here I am 
your sole adherent. I have repeatedly assured your fellow Jews here 
that we don’t want any of our local Jews to leave, that none of them 
shall and will go. I have many acquaintances among your co-re- 
ligionists whom I esteem.” 


934 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Then he dismissed me very cordially, after a conversation that 
had lasted for an hour and a quarter. 

In the ante-chamber, General von Muller stiffly returned it, 
formal bow, and only a group of younger officers in gala dress who 
had been obliged to wait such a long time looked with some as- 
tonishment and respect at the Jewish stranger who had been with 
the sovereign for so long. I passed through the group without a 
greeting, because I know their ways and did not want to give them 
an opportunity to take my greeting as Jewish servility. To be sure, 
I didn t have much time to reason thus: just the time it takes to 
cross the ante-chamber (I think it is the one where the flags once 
impressed me) at a brisk pace. 

* * # 

My hotel carriage drove up and I rolled out of the palace square 
m style. I think I was not yet at the guard-house when I had already 
made up my mind to turn this unsuccessful attempt to account 
after all, by informing Koerber in Vienna of this disposition of 
German policy, which is of great interest to Austria. 

To what extent I can use the Grand Duke’s disclosures vis-i-vis 
Lord Salisbury I don’t know at the moment. Could little me con- 
trive a rapprochement between England and Germany on the basis 

of Zionism, of all things? C’est a creuser [It is something to explore 
thoroughly]. 


* * * 

On the train, beyond Strasbourg. 

Letter to Koerber— to be dated Paris, April 19 : 

Your Excellency: 

Your Excellency was kind enough to say at my departure that I 
should write occasionally. Now I actually have an occasion to do so 
which seems to me gratifying and not without importance. 

Following an invitation by the Grand Duke of Baden, I have 
een to Karlsruhe. The Grand Duke, who always treats me with 
such kindness, this time, too, expressed himself on many subjects, 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 935 

including our Emperor’s forthcoming Berlin journey. I believe I 
am committing no indelicacy if I bring the temper of German 
policy, which I was able to gather quite distinctly from the words 
of His Royal Highness, to Your Excellency’s attention. 

Many favorable things are being expected from the visit of our 
Emperor. The Triple Alliance, which would soon have fallen to 
pieces, partly because of Austria’s former domestic policy, will be 
newly strengthened or, actually, restored. Austrian foreign policy 
will meet with the desired support, particularly as far as Bulgaria is 
concerned. “Emperor Franz Joseph will be satisfied!” These were 
the Grand Duke’s words. 

I believe it can be of value if it is known in Vienna beforehand 
what expectations one should adopt — quite apart from the self- 
evident civilities of the reception — and that Count Goluchow- 
ski’s calculations thus face favorable eventualities from the outset. 
There are certain motives at work about which I may have an op- 
portunity to say a few things after my return. 

It might also be of interest that the turn in Austrian domestic 
policies, Your Excellency’s attempts to restore more orderly con- 
ditions, are meeting with the greatest recognition and sympathy in 
German circles. The aspirations of the German-Radicals are most 
vigorously rejected, because Germany needs a strengthened Aus- 
tria. This aspect, too, can perhaps be exploited at the approaching 
Bohemian understanding. In any case, I had the impression that 
Your Excellency’s regime inspires in Germany just as much gratifi- 
cation and the readiness for an alliance resulting from it as the 
earlier governments aroused suspicion and ill-will. Under such 
circumstances there will be a better possibility of getting the Ger- 
mans and the Czechs, for that matter — into that moderate, toler- 
able and tolerated degree of dissatisfaction which is already the 
ideal among us. 

Your Excellency may consider it wise to inform His Majesty the 
Emperor and possibly Count Goluchowski of the foregoing. I 
would have only one urgent request to make, namely, that no one 
else should learn anything about it, for it would be infinitely pain- 


936 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

ful if some distorted rendering gave the Grand Duke, whom I 
venerate most sincerely, the impression that I had become guilty of 
unseemly tale-bearing. 

On Sunday I am leaving here for London, Hotel Cecil, will be 
there until Thursday, and in Vienna again on May ist. 

With deepest respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Dr. Th. H. 

Mailed in a second envelope addressed to my father on April 20. 


April 2 1, on the train from Amiens to Calais 

Yesterday, a conversation of several hours with Nordau about 
Zionism et de omni re scibili et ceteris aliis [and about every con- 
ceivable thing and others too]. 

This time N. was very nice, not only outwardly but inwardly as 
well, and submitted to my leadership, particularly with regard to 
the letter to Rumanian Jewry which, following my advice, is not 
being published. However, I shall make use of it in London; I shall 
say that I want to keep Nordau from publishing this letter, which 
could lead to catastrophes. 

At parting I mentioned my intention of seeing Lord Salisbury 
(through the good offices of Lord Glanusk [?]). Nordau said that 
the poeta laureatus [poet laureate] Austin had been shocked by my 
failure to pay him the visit that had been announced to him last 
summer. I had forgotten about the whole thing, but declared my 
readiness to make up for the omission now. N. immediately com- 
posed a telegram in which I asked Austin to wire me whether he 
would be willing to receive me at Ashford today. In the evening 
came his reply: 

With pleasure, Austin * 

Accordingly, I am now on my way to Ashford. 

• In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 937 
April 22, on the train from Ashford to London 

I spent a wonderful evening and morning in Swinford Old 
Manor with Alfred Austin, the poeta laureatus, the Lord of Poets 

in England. # 

I wasn’t met at the station yesterday, which surprised and miffed 

me. So I drove to the Saracen’s Head Hotel, which pleased me with 
its English style* I washed and changed, left my luggage in the 
hotel, and drove out of the little town, through a delicate early- 
summer landscape, to Swinford, the country residence of the Lord 
of Poets. 

A quiet park, a delicious garden, silence all around the venerable 
manor. A short, elderly gentleman with a martial-looking white 
moustache and a grey knickerbocker suit came to meet me. He said 
he had sent a carriage to the station, but to meet the next train. 
When I said that I wanted to continue my trip the same evening, he 
was displeased, as was the amiable Mrs. Austin, beautiful even 
under her grey hair. But they soon caught on that I wanted to leave 
only because there had been no carriage to meet me. I willingly let 
myself be convinced by the timetable that this morning would be 
time enough. 

My coachman was sent to the Saracen’s Head Hotel for my lug- 
gage, and we ensconced ourselves in one of the drawing-rooms for 
tea. The ideal English country home* Outside the windows, the 
most gentle spring landscape; in the drawing-room, nevertheless, 
blazing logs in the fireplace. 

The conversation was soon in full swing, because, speaking 
about Zionism, I said that anti-Semitism could also come to Eng- 
land in consequence of South African failures which were attrib- 
uted to the money-men. 

In England there was no anti-Semitism and there never could be, 
declared dear Mrs. Austin, and the “ laureate"* confirmed this. 

And from that point on we spoke only about the war. What 
charming jingoists these two are, proud of their beautiful England, 

# In English in the original. 


938 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

which they call the first, foremost, finest Power in the world. Mon 
avis [My opinion] ! 

Since I was aiming at getting an introduction to Lord Salisbury 
from Austin, I expressed the desire that an alliance be achieved 
between England and Germany. England ought to make the Ger- 
man Kaiser its agent with the German people. Since I know from 
the Grand Duke of Baden that Germany is afraid of England, I can 
operate a coup sur [on a sure thing] when I promise that I could 
induce the Kaiser to do this. On the other hand, from Austin’s 
words I recognize the feeling of England which, to be sure, is proud 
and self-assured, but purely defensive. 

The Grand Duke’s fears of a lightly provoked war are evidently 
groundless. 

All the meanders of our afternoon conversation at five o’clock 
tea, later over dinner at the beautiful English table decorated with 
flowers — Mrs. Austin in evening dress, the “laureate”* and I in 
compromise clothes, he with black tie, I with white — cannot be re- 
produced. These are the people, this is the milieu that I need for 
my well-being. Comme je les comprends, les Juifs assimiles de 
l Angleterre [How I sympathize with them, the assimilated English 
Jews]! If I lived in England, I might be a. jingo.* 

I didn t even need to ask Austin for the introduction to Lord 
Salisbury. When I told him that I would like to speak with Salis- 
bury, he immediately offered to give me a letter to him. 

Je l avais amorce [I had hooked him] by parading before his eyes 
the chance of an understanding with Germany. 

Among the theories of the “laureate"* is his declaring England 
to be an organism* and Germany, France, etc. mechanisms* He 
calls German colonial policy mechanical, i.e., contrived, whereas 
English policy is organic. 

At eleven o clock we went to bed. The wonderfully quiet night 
in the guest room of Swinford Old Manor. 

The rosy morning. The dear Mrs. Austin. I sensed her liking for 
me, just as I took to this delightful matron. I shall send her some- 
thing from Vienna. 

• In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 939 

Mr. Austin took me to the station in his victoria. The coachman 
wa s stylish.* 

The ridiculous revolutionaries mock at old forms and externals. 
But the shiny table, the order in the house, the correct coachman 

mean something, too. # 

The form which derives from the substance and has rigidified 
through the infinite toil of many generations in turn reacts upon 
the substance. 

With all my liking for the laureate* a few comic touches did 
not escape my notice. He is a guerrier en chamhre [an armchair 
warrior], a conqueror of colonies in his quiet flower garden. Mrs. 
Austin is taller by three heads than he is; he likes to put his hand on 
her shoulder, just as he patted mine reaching up from below. 

He gave me a pretty quotation from the Prime Minister of Can- 
ada:* “It will be the eternal glory of England that she (I think he 
said "she") was not prepared for this war."* 

We attack no one, he said, but we are ready for war with the 
whole world. 

I must break off. Here is London. I still have to write my speech 
for tonight and have it translated into English. 

* # # 

While riding to the station Austin read me the letter of recom- 
mendation to Salisbury. He seems to have a good impression of me. 


April 25, London 

Days of annoyances and honors. 

At the Great Central Hotel, day before yesterday, a reception* at 
which I had to talk. Gaster came and welcomed me with a bitter- 
sweet expression, with forced enthusiasm. Then all kinds of 

* In English in the original. 


940 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

thanks* The most interesting thing about the whole business was 
the presence of De Sola from Montreal and Dr. Hertz of Capetown 
They made the same speeches that are made in Vienna. Evidence in 
favor of Zionism. 


* * # 

Worries at the Bank. 

The directors Kann and Lurie frustrated the session by their 
absence. Wolffsohn wasn’t there either. For the first time he fails us. 
Now I reluctantly have to stay here two days longer to provide a 
quorum. 

In the City* I am a sort of banker.* Curious adventure. At 
the Burlington Hotel, October ’98, I was a promoter* Now the 
bank is established, but don’t ask me how. Secretary Loewe displays 
the worst will imaginable. Deputy governor* Rabbinowicz figures 
every quarter-hour that he sits there a benefaction, because he gets 
no salary. The Solicitor* runs up expenses. 

Go “parade in state” with such people. The dreary Viennese wit 
Bauer was right. * * He knew himself and his kind. 

* # # 

I am determined not to leave before I have put things in order. 
With it all I am plag^ued by the worry whether my office will for- 
give me for this absence. 


# # # 

A dear letter from Austin. Lord Salisbury has regretfully refused 
on account of the war worries. He cannot receive me now. 

• In English in the original. 

Translators Note: An allusion to Julius Bauer’s eight-line satirical poem about 
Herzl (1897) which ends with the words: “£r denkt daran in dieser Zeit mit Juden 
Siaat zu machen!” Also see note on p. 797. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 94. 

May i, on the train between Linz and Vienna 

Mv tr jp wouldn’t have been complete if, as usual, the wonry 
about tlKietum hadn't interfered. Since I can always un erta e 
these extracurricular vacation trips only on my own responsibility 
„d with a cenain boldness, I have to think about the reunton with 
m , two slave-drivers with concern. After all, I am in a special gales 
(exile), and the loss of my job with the Neue Freie Presse would be 
a great catastrophe for me. 

The poor Jews really have egregious touch luck. If some- 
one finally turns up who wants to help them and could do it for I 
am firmly convinced that through my personal intervention I 
would get things ahead quickly— he is a wage slave and has to 
tremble for his children’s bread. 

I intended to go to Constantinople soon after this — but I don’t 
dare to be absent again soon. My masters could resent it too much. 
Haven’t I just now received proof of their cowardly ill-humor? 

In order to be forgiven for this trip, I wrote a feuilleton about 
the exposition the very next day after my arrival in Paris and sent it 
to Vienna by a passenger on the Orient Express. They didn’t print 
thi s feuilleton, but the day before yesterday they published one by 
Wittmann with the same contents. 

I felt a certain relief when in today’s paper, which I bought at 
Attnang, I at least found my second (London) travel feuilleton. 

In such an unstable situation I musn’t make any experiments. 
How am I to support my family and myself if I lose my post? I 
would really be out in the street and would have to try to place 
leuilletons in German papers. 

Added to this is the fact that 1 have already made enormous 
nancial sacrifices and by now am almost without any funds. 

on the! 10 "? $h d UM ° ffer me an y thin S near what I now make 

would havTl rete u PreS5e 1S sim P 1 y out of the question. Besides, I 

proachmef reputatlon overni ght, and they would re- 

proach me for every mouthful of bread. 

dually, under such circumstances it would be my duty to re- 


942 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

sign, since I would be unable to serve the cause fully and com- 
pletely. 

But do I have the right to do that? 

It would be an idea to turn over the leadership (at least nomi- 
nally) to Francis Montefiore, who is a man of independent means. 

# * # 

Yesterday, half an hour before my departure from Paris, I ran 
into Bernard Lazare on the boulevard. He greeted me most amica- 
bly and assured me he had never ceased being of one mind with me. 

Since he told me that he intended to go to Constantinople soon 
as representative of the telegraphic news-agency Agence Nationale, 
I asked him if he wouldn’t try to win Ambassador Constans for our 
cause. Constans is said to be accessible for money. One could inti- 
mate to him the economic consequences of a large-scale organiza- 
tion of Palestine carried out by us: railroads, harbors, etc., and also 
that there could be some money in it for him. 

Lazare plans to visit me in Vienna next week in order to talk 
some more about this. 


# * * 

I have thought of a good epitaph for myself: 
“He had too good an opinion of the Jews.” 


May 2 

Letter to Koerber: 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to advise you that I am back again. 

I believe it would be useful if I were permitted to pay my respects 
to you this very day, perhaps in the evening, for I have something to 
say that could be of importance to Count Goluchowski even prior 
to his departure. I shall wait for a possible summons in my apart- 
ment this afternoon between 5 and 8 o’clock. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 943 

Otherwise I shall permit myself to call at the Ministry at 9 
o’clock tomorrow morning. 

With deepest respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th.H. 

May 4, 1900, Vienna 

Yesterday morning at 9 o’clock with Koerber, who gave me a very 
friendly reception. He said he had informed the Emperor (at this 
he gave a strangely meaningful smile) and Count Goluchowski of 
my Paris letter. He was going to see Goluchowski in the afternoon 
and would then give him the information I would give him now. I 
said that people were accounting for Germany’s present pro-Eng- 
land about-face by saying that Germany had got something — an 
island or the like. 

As I saw it, they really did get something: namely, scared. They 
are scared of a naval war with England which would ruin Ger- 
many’s commerce and industry. That is why they were anxious to 
have a Triple Alliance emphasized, and Goluchowski would be 
able to negotiate from a good position. 

Koerber said he would inform Goluchowski of this. 

Then he told me in detail what he intended to do in the Reichs- 
rat and outlined the speech he planned to make before Parliament 
when the language bill was introduced. I approved of some things, 
criticized others, e.g., his intention rhetorically to call for the aid 
of the parties not involved in the language dispute. Neither the 
Germans nor the Czechs would willingly put up with the interven- 
tion of Poles, Slovenes, and Clericals. Instead, the government 
ought to shoulder the responsibility for mediation. I conceived of 
this appeal to peace not as full of pathos, but of plain bonhomie. 

Wanna write it down for me?” he asked. 

Gladly,” I said. He thereupon handed me in complete confi- 
dence the drafts of the language bill, which aren’t to be made pub- 
lic until May 8th. 


944 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I promised to study them within two days and to send him a 
draft for his speech. he 

He once made a slip of the tongue, as though he had a slight at 
tack of paraphasia. In general, he gave me the impression of wmI 
ness and debility. K * 


May 5 

Kann resigned the day before yesterday, which caused some ex- 
citement in the Bank. I have taken over the command and shall 
restore order. 


May 5 

Draft of the language-bill speech which I am writing for Koer- 
ber. Je prends date ici [I fix the date for this here]. 

The day after tomorrow I shall confirm this text as mine by re- 
cording after these lines a death that will occur tomorrow. 

(Honored House:) 

The moment when I have the honor of placing upon the table 
of this house the drafts for the legal regulation of linguistic condi- 
tions in Bohemia and Moravia can become a moment of good 
fortune for our fatherland if you will it so. 

More than by logical reasoning this bill is motivated by a pro- 
found general longing for domestic peace. By far the largest part of 
the population harbors such a longing, and the government, which 
wants to be a government of peace and of work, believes it is on the 
right track if it makes itself the interpreter of these clearly recog- 
nized desires of the people. Precisely because we are not under the 
influence of any national faction or political party, precisely be- 
cause we stand on the raised platform of the general interest, we feel 

ourselves called upon to settle the dispute which has already lasted 
too long. 

How do we want to end it? By a law! That is to say, through the 
purest expression of the collective will. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 945 

The persistent confusion of recent times is to blame if we have to 
say the most self-evident things all over again and even explain 

them. The linguistic conditions in the aforementioned crown- 
lands have unfortunately become the subject of contention. Well 

then, they can, they shall, they must be regulated. And no one 
would understand if in the house of representatives of the people, 
of all places, voices were raised objecting to this regulation being 
carried out in a constitutional form. The constitutional form is the 
law. The representatives of the people would have to demand it 
from us if we did not bring it to them. 

And now read our bill. 

Read it, examine it — improve itl In every line, in every word of 
our bill you will at least recognize a sincere effort to effect a just 
compromise. We want to take into account the accurately deter- 
mined local conditions of the majority and its consequent needs 
and rights just as conscientiously as we want to allow for the rights 
of the minority. The propertyless, the lesser-educated, even the de- 
fendant in a law-suit shall enjoy the fullest linguistic freedom and 
security with the authorities. If our bill has any bias, it is only this: 
to meet the needs of practical life with consideration and respect 
for national individualities. And this single tendency you will be 
able to trace down to the regulations governing the internal affairs 
of the bureaus. Everywhere we wish to make it possible to live to- 
gether, work together, and communicate with one another on the 
natural basis of the real needs. 

The communal life of human beings requires, to be sure, a cer- 
tain mutual consideration. Sacrifices have to be made by anyone 
who wants to share in the enjoyment of the benefits of the com- 
munity. These sacrifices, however, are the smaller the more will- 
ingly they are made. 

We have bad years behind us. The language dispute has had a 
virtually paralyzing effect on the most divers conditions which are 
apparently remote from it. Let us admit it to ourselves, no matter 
how painful the truth may be: our beautiful country has suffered 
severely from this protracted crisis. Commerce and communication 
have been disturbed, the spirit of enterprise has been intimidated, 


946 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

and the public projects which augment the national wealth ha 
been at a standstill. At a time which has brought the most mirac^ 
lous technical progress of the civilized world we have had to lol 
on inactively as the countries and peoples all around us became 
ever more prosperous and stronger. At a time when each yearh 
as valuable for economic and cultural development as decades 
used to be we have spent years on self-righteous litigation, and the 
costs threaten to swallow up the object of the quarrel. At a time 
finally, when the legislators of other lands were able to direct their 
attention also to improving the conditions of the poor and the 
underprivileged, we have been hypnotized by the question whether 
this or that language would be used. 


The government has striven to discover that line at which no 
one’s legitimate national sensibilities will be offended. Let the 
wisdom of this exalted house supplement our proposal. 

But is there an Austrian left who does not desire peace? 

It is not a shameful or a sham peace, but an honest and honorable 
one, which is all the more useful for both sides if only because it 
benefits the State which embraces them both. 

Honorable House! Our bill is a document which we are setting 
up as a memorial for all time. It is clear evidence that the govern- 
ment has not been lacking in good will. 

It would not be the fault of the government if this attempt 
should, contrary to my hopes, fail. 

Gentlemen, make peace, and let us get to the tasks that await us! 


* * * 


May 5, 1900 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to enclose the draft of the speech to accompany 
t e introduction of the bill. The passages marked in blue may be 
superfluous or dubious. 

I considered it the main task to emphasize the necessity for a law 
m contrast to an ordinance and also to intimate that the respond 
lhty for continuing the querulousness has now been shifted onto 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 947 

the dogmatic disputants, because this would prepare the ground 
for a possible subsequent dissolution of the Reichsrat and the in- 
fluencing of the electorate. 

I am always willingly at your disposal for making changes as 
well as, afterwards, for the refutation of counter-arguments that 
may come up during the discussion. 

With deep respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th. Herzl. 


May 7, Vienna 

Koerber invited me to call on him this morning. When I got 
there at 9 o’clock he was already waiting for me impatiently. 

I soon gathered from his words that he wished to use only a few 
words of my draft, actually nothing but the concluding sentence, 
because he does not wish to adopt a fighting stance vis-<i-vis the 
Czechs. Rather, he intends to draw them into the “Staatspartei” 
which he needs once Parliament is functioning again. 

He quoted me entire passages from his speech for tomorrow 
which he has already learned by heart. I gave him my judgment: 
“The speech is too bureaucratic. Your Excellency! It lacks the 
proclamatory tone which you need if you want to hold new 
elections.” 

He asked me to add a few sentences to the speech which he was 
going to send me in the afternoon. 

Sure enough: when I returned home at 4:30 I found the type* 
script of the speech waiting for me. I am making some corrections 
in it and writing him: 

Your Excellency: 

The speech reads very well. The reference to the Bohemian in- 
vestments is especially effective; the tenor of the whole cannot but 
be taken as conciliatory. To be sure, only now do I see what Your 
* In English in the original. 


948 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Excellency’s views are, and, of course, I would have had to word 
my draft quite differently on that basis. 

However, if I may permit myself an objection — otherwise there 
would be no point in my modest appraisal — it seems to me that 
the speech lacks authority. It has no compelling force which could 
have an effect in the hall and on the outside. This may again be 
motivated by aspects of the situation which I don’t know about 
If there is hope that there will be no Czech obstruction, or that it 
can be broken in a short time, this mild speech will be sufficient. 

If this is not the case, and inasmuch as the government will 
henceforth be the government of these language laws and will be 
known as such, more emphasis on shifting the responsibility for 
halting any development in the Empire might have been useful. 

I have permitted myself to jot down small corrections on the 
margin, since the copy is a rough one. 

These pages, as well as the strengthened concluding sentences 
which might be included, are on top. 

With deep respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th.H. 


May 10 

Koerber has made an entirely different speech, and the Czechs 
have refused to cooperate. 

What does he think about my secretarial services? That I want 
a decoration or something like that? 

I am only doing it so that he will recommend me to Goluchowski, 
and the latter, to the Sultan. 


May n 

For the past few days, the Kann crisis. Kann has resigned and 
wants to run the Bank down publicly. They are all making in their 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 949 

pants, especially Wolffsohn. Je leur remets du coeur au ventre 
[I put heart into them]. 

* * * 

Got York-Steiner as an inspector for the Bank yesterday. He 
acted as though he had been offered three other positions. I stopped 
him short: “You will get an offer from me only if you are free. 
Otherwise you will later reproach me with having done you out of 
a job.’’ 

“So I have to be starving,” he flared up. 

Je finis pourtant par avoir raison de lui [Still, I finally got the 
better of him]. 


May 15 

It proved impossible to hire Steiner after all. 

He acted too much the part of the “savior of the Bank” even 
before he had done a thing, and the A.C. considered it dangerous 
to be indebted to him with “eternal gratitude.” 

# # # 

Kann’s resignation has turned into a disagreeable tempest. He 
wanted to get us over a barrel by threatening that he would publish 
“the reasons for my resignation.” Since we replied by simply accept- 
ing his resignation, he took revenge and caused an indescribable 
hullabaloo. They are all worried. But I am continuing to steer our 
ship quite unperturbed. 

An absolutely perfidious, “strictly confidential” circular is being 
sent out by Lourie. The answer I am making to it will be preserved 
for posterity in the files of the Congress Office. 

# # # 

Moi [the Great I Am] has asked for a new memorandum. I wrote 
him on the 10 th of the month that I have already written enough 
memoranda. Why didn’t he tell me right out if he was unable to 
procure the audience for me. 


950 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Koerber didn’t take my advice and consequently is in a p re 

carious position now. Since he failed to push the obstructionists 
to the wall, they are pushing him to the wall. 

* # # 

The day before yesterday I made a Zionist speech at the Israeli- 
tische Allianz which seems to have made more of an impression 
this time. Dr. Alfred Stem told me yesterday that they would 
shortly invite me to a confidential discussion of the campaign to 
aid the Rumanian Jews which I had suggested. 

Despite this I am publishing in the Welt a satirical article about 
the Allianz, because I don’t believe in the seriousness of these 
people. 

If they do call me, I shall propose that they bring about a united 
front of all European big Jews. They need not part with a penny, 
but only empower me to intervene with the Turkish government 
in the name of all of them. 


May 18 , Vienna. 

Alex Marmorek, our best man, has been here for a few weeks 
and left yesterday, ill, for Paris. While here he fell sick with 
rheumatoid arthritis which took a rapid course, to be sure, but 
may not be his only ailment. Yesterday I suddenly had the impres- 
sion that he has tuberculosis. I am afraid that in the course of his 
research on the T.B. bacillus he has contracted the disease himself. 
I fear that the bacilli will kill him before he kills them. 

He thinks, of course, that he has found the cure. He believes that 
he will be able to make his remedy public in two or three months. 
I consider it a fantasy. A child that he treated for meningitis died. 

If he has found the remedy and it proves a success, he will, at 
my request, turn over its commercial exploitation to the Jewish 
Colonial Trust. That would endow it at one stroke. The shares 
would be subscribed in one day. Zionism would suddenly have all 
the resources it needs. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 951 

Mais ce serait trop beau [But that would be too good]. I acted as 
though I believed it, although I consider it an illusion. 

But what a fine human being this Alex is inside. We had some 
good talks. I love him very much. He told me: “When I am through 
with tuberculosis, I shall tackle malaria. I want to study it in 
Palestine, among our colonists. Of course, that might be the end 
of me. C’est une maladie qui ne pardonne pas [That is a sickness 
which shows no mercy]. But if I discover the remedy, Africa will 
be opened up. Malaria is the bar which closes Africa to European 
culture.” 

What a grandiose conception this isl He who wills something 
great is in my eyes a great man — not he who achieves it. For in 
achievement luck plays a part. 

I accompanied him to the station; and my heart was heavy when 
I saw him tottering into his compartment. 


May 19 

Letter to Koerber, who hasn’t been in touch with me for some 
time and whom I won’t let fall asleep. 

Your Excellency: 

So it does appear as though the Reichsrat will be dissolved, 
unless today’s communique was only a false alarm. At present the 
Ministry is undoubtedly stronger than Parliament. If it is not pos- 
sible in the elections to create the Staatspartei which is necessary 
for governing — a kind of Center Party — Parliament will be 
stronger than the government. I believe, therefore, that it is neces- 
sary to run these elections with especial precautions, with new 
methods and fresh ideas. The routine in the governors’ offices 
which your Excellency complained of in one of our talks would 
be simply disastrous in this respect. Nor should the district chiefs 
be allowed to “horse around” with their red tape, otherwise the 
battle will be lost.* I consider the situation of the government in 

* Translator’s Note: Herzl’s phrase is den " SchimmeV * reiten. A Schimmel is a 
white horse, Amtsschimmcl means "red tape." Although the latter expression’s 
connection with horsemanship is doubtful, Herzl jocularly remarks that the district 
chiefs would do well not to ride a Schimmel . 


952 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

the elections to be very favorable, because it can, without belon 
ing to a party, establish direct contact with the interests of the 
citizenry. This time the Staatspartei can be made popular. To do 
this, of course, administrative and journalistic preparations are 
necessary now. 

I shall gladly expound my humble views on this if I am called 
for an hour’s chat some time, preferably in the evening. 

With deepest respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th.H. 


May 20 

The poor Rumanians are on the march. Dr. Lippe of Jassy 
telegraphed me yesterday: 

The hikers you know about are being detained at Bukowina 
border. Intervene for passage; they may take train to Czemowitz. 

A second telegram of similar content from Botosani. 

I spent the night reflecting what I should do about it. I believe, 
above all, that the closing of the border may be laid to secret inter- 
vention on the part of the Allianz people von Gutmann and Dr. 
Alfred Stem. Ils etaient alleches [They were tempted to it] by my 
incautious remark that Hungary was not admitting the Rumanian 
Jews. They must have thought to themselves: We can do the same 
thing. It simplifies the aid campaign for them. 

They are smart, all right. 

I am now writing to Koerber: 

Your Excellency: 

Unfortunate Rumanian Jews, the poorest of the poor, are now 
standing at the border near Itzkany. The most abject poverty has 
forced them to emigrate to America. The Austrian border authori- 
ties are denying them admission. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 953 

There are 95 emigrants with passports for America, as I am in- 
formed by telegram. 

If it is not impossible, unless serious political reasons that are 
unknown to me militate against it, I request in the name of 
humanity that telegraphic orders be given to let these unfortunates 
pass. 

With deepest respect, I am 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th.H. 


May 23 

Today I have again been with Koerber at his invitation. 

I expounded the program, then, of how the elections would have 
to be run. Start work now, send for the provincial chiefs, gather 
information about every single election district and treat them in- 
dividually. Issue a questionnaire, etc. The main thing, a proclama- 
tion to the national groups when the Reichsrat is dissolved. I said 
that the situation of the government, apparently disagreeable, was 
in truth tremendously favorable. Perhaps even a Koerber Party 
could get seats in the Parliament. However, that would be hazard- 
ous, because it would make him a party chief and, as such, vulner- 
able. The Emperor, in any case, ought to intervene, too. It is 
actually a question of the existence of the monarchy. 

He shrugged his shoulders. “The Emperor is old. How often 
haven’t I tole ’im: Your Majesty, you want a policy that looks 
tough; but if there’s any more aggressive action against some party 
or line, you are against it. If you’ve got to present the most delicate 
questions in Parliament, you can’t manage to back down the 
moment there’s an outcry. Now, on top of that, there’s the Imperial 
family matters. Often I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.” 

I explained all the things one could accomplish with the ad- 
ministrative machinery, more than any of the parties could. The 
government can give what the parties only promise as they go 
along: Railroads, etc. For an Order of Franz Josef or an “Imperial 


954 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Councillor” one can buy a lot in the elections. (He nodded his 
agreement). Further, the veterans’ patriotism should be enlisted 

“But for elections one needs money, too,” he said. 

“That can be obtained,” I said. 

“Our administrative machinery has suffered a great deal of harm 
in the last 20 years,” he said. 

“The slackers will stiffen up when they notice that one is pro- 
ceeding energetically here.” 

In short, the upshot was that he asked me to work out a question- 
naire for him for the authorities to use. He would then send for the 
governors and give them their instructions. 

I am now sending him this draft: 

Your Excellency: 

Please find enclosed the draft of a questionnaire for the lower 
political echelons. I imagine the procedure something like this: 

To begin with, summoning the provincial chiefs to Vienna for 
a confidential discussion. General instructions about the Center 
Party which is to be promoted and is to champion, in the German- 
Bohemian language question (outside Bohemia, too), the Koerber 
draft, the resumption of normal parliamentary activities, a re- 
awakening of economic life, moderate social reforms, etc. 

The provincial chiefs should copy the questionnaire for them- 
selves and continue to give it confidential treatment. Each of them 
should, particularly, call in those district chiefs who are absolutely 
reliable and do not lean towards any party (certainly the great 
majority). They should be shown the questionnaire, in rather free 
form, so that they may take down its main points. 

(Questionnaire). 

1. How has the representation of the election district been up 
to now? Have the constituents been satisfied with the activity of 
the representative? What do they criticize him for? What under- 
currents are there? 

2. What party or parties have been defeated in the last election? 
Who were the unsuccessful candidates? Their campaigners? What 
about their election fund? Causes of defeat? 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 955 

3. What currents prevail in the election district now? Give a 
rough estimate of their approximate strength. 

4. Are there candidates in sight already (besides the outgoing 
deputy)? Who are they? 

Is there in the district itself a respected man of moderate views 
and sufficient influence who could be confidentially sounded out 
as to whether he would run on the platform of the Staatspartei 
[State Party] or Center Party? 

The type would be, perhaps, a well-to-do manufacturer, at- 
torney, or average landed proprietor. 

5. What election committees were active in the last political elec- 
tions in your district? Send in any election appeals that may still 
be available, but in any case an accurate list of the living members 
of the election committee who were active in the last elections to 
the Reichsrat and the Provincial Diet, as well as in the municipal 
elections. Which ones have since withdrawn, for personal or mate- 
rial reasons? For the sake of clarity, this should be arranged by 
parties, one file for each party. 

6. Among the officers of the cooperative societies and associa- 
tions for the common good which are located in the constituency 
are there men who are not yet on the election committees and who 
might be used for the formation of an election committee for the 
anti-obstructionist Staatspartei? 

Who are they? 

These people must not be sounded out by an official, unless 
success and discretion are completely assured from the outset. 
Especially on this point you, Mr. District Chief, will be able to 
demonstrate your dependability and efficiency. 

As a rule, a private person known to you as reliable should be 
used for this delicate investigation. Whom do you have in mind 
for this? Don’t discuss it with him before you have something to 
go on. Then you will instruct him cautiously, so that even the 
semblance of influencing an election may be avoided. The whole 
campaign must have the character of an active desire, growing out 
of the people, for the return to orderly parliamentary conditions 
and for the sound satisfaction of economic needs. 


956 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

7. What political attitude does the clergy of the various de- 
nominations in the district take? Is electioneering activity to be 
expected from that quarter? 

8. What is the nature and influence of the teachers? 

9. What local commercial and economic needs that are depend- 
ent on support from the state make themselves felt in the election 
district? 

10. What are the approximate funds that an election committee 
of the Staatspartei would need in the district? Can these funds be 
raised in the district itself? Possibly through what persons? 

1 1 . What newspapers have an influence in the constituency? Are 
they owned by parties or by individuals? Give detailed informa- 
tion about the conditions of ownership of the individual papers. 
For what ends does the owner want to use the paper? For business 
or political gain? 

Special attention, of course, should be paid to the elections of 
landed property and chambers of commerce. With the chambers 
of commerce the matter is much easier, with the landed estates it 
is harder. For the latter, special arrangements should later be 
made, also according to the principle of individual treatment. 

The propagandistic preparations for the election should not be 
started until later. The press can best be influenced by the election 
committees once these have been organized. A dignified reserve 
should be recommended for the semi-official people. At a given 
moment, which is still to be determined, a rumor should be 
launched that should the newly-elected House of Deputies prove 
incapable of action again, a regime without a constitution might 
come, possibly with a general as its executive head. Such a rumor 
which one might let crop up in some place that is above suspicion 
would be of the greatest service. It would paralyze many an attempt 
on the part of the radicals, because they would be “doing the work 
of reaction.” 

For the primitive imaginations of the voters as well as for the 
declamations of the campaigners, a sham foe is almost as usable 
in an election as a real one. The professional politicians who sub- 
sist on ruining Austria owe their best successes to this method. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 957 

Those stumping for the Center Party could operate with the 
threatening “general” among those of limited intelligence, and 
with the real danger, the obstructionists, among the more sensible 
ones. In elections it is more important to be against something or 
someone than for something or someone. 

Therefore: fight obstructionism! 

For purposes of publicity, the so-called professional journals 
should also be brought into the picture. They are in closer touch 
with the economic needs of their readers and often can make a 
more effective appeal for a candidate than the big political papers, 
many of which have lost influence by their financial sins. 

Let this hastily sketched first suggestion suffice for the moment. 
Many points are still to be developed and elaborated on. 

If the administrative machinery works quickly and turns in the 
first basic information within two or three weeks, the further 
necessary measures can be derived from that. 

With deepest respect, I remain 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th. Herzl. 


Vienna, May 24, 1900 


June 2, Vienna 

Great Conference hubbub since May 25. A lot of talk and little 
action. 

Results: Congress called for London. I was in favor of Basel 
again, Bodenheimer proposed Brussels, Schnirer, London. The last 
proposal passed after I had agreed to it. I suddenly realized that 
we have outgrown Basel. 

Since then the idea of London has grown on me. This can give 
the movement a fresh essor [impetus]. 

In the Bank, tohu-bohu [chaos]. 

Wolffsohn didn’t come, but Lurie did. He asked forgiveness for 
everything. A new Special Committee, consisting of Lurie, Krem- 


958 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

enezky, and, for the time being, Katzenelsohn. Lurie and Katzenel- 
sohn left for London. We’ll see what comes of it. 

A rather important Constantinople alerte [alarm] in the last 
few days. The papers report that Prof. Vamb^ry has been called 
to Yildiz to see the Sultan. 

I immediately sent Hechler to Pest, to see Vdmb^ry last Friday. 

Hechler returned on Saturday and said that Vdmb£ry wasn’t 
there yet. On Monday I sent Hechler down again. He telephoned 
and told me that Vamb^ry had already left. 

Thereupon I had Hechler telegraph Vdmb^ry at Constan- 
tinople, asking how long he was staying there. Answer: until June 
8th. Hechler can’t go until tomorrow and won’t be there before 
the 5th. So as not to lose these precious days, I sent Heinrich 
Rosenbaum to Constantinople the day before yesterday. Hechler 
will follow him there tomorrow. 

Every effort shall be exerted to have me received by the Sultan 
in audience. I gave Rosenbaum precise instructions for Vdmb^ry, 
which he took down in shorthand. 

Perhaps it will work out this time. 


June 3, Vienna 

Yesterday evening the following wire came from Rosenbaum 
in Constantinople: 

Schlesinger (Vdmbdry) leaving Monday June 2nd (?), will be 
gone some time, may initiate business (audience) matter Charter 
today. Wired reports tomorrow or next day. 

* # # 

Some of it incomprehensible. I immediately wired back: 

Is Schlesinger leaving for good or will he return here (Con- 
stantinople)? When is he going home? Request wired reply. 

At any rate, I immediately stopped Hechler who was supposed 
to go to Constantinople today. He was a bit disappointed. 

Now I am waiting on tenterhooks. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 959 

Could it be that we are close to the denouement [solution]? Or 

shall we hear a categorical No from Yildiz? 

If this came, I would resume work on my novel A Itneuland. F 


Whit-Monday 1900 

(Exactly five years, I believe, since my visit to Baron Hirsch.) 
This is the way a lost battle looks. Dr. Leopold Kahn, a member of 
the A.C., comes in a black frock coat with yellow gloves and a low 
white hat and brings me a wire from Rosenbaum. This wire con- 
tains a very odd item. Rosenbaum telegraphs mysteriously City 
of Waltzes” instead of “Vienna.” It wasn’t a mot convenu [code 
word]. 

Telegram: Galata to Vienna, June 4, 2s. 

Schlesinger tried Cohn (Sultan) day before yesterday, flatly 
refused. Had no chance yesterday. Leaving for West today, passing 
through City of Waltzes where plans one-day stay. Loebel (myself) 
should wait for him, since place to stay indefinite. He opines try 
mediation of Moi’s superior. Please wire by return if my presence 
still required, because wish to leave Tuesday steamer. 

The only comforting feature of this telegram is that he “had no 
chance yesterday.” Thus the flat refusal of the day before had not 
been such that he could not have started all over again yesterday if 
there had been a suitable opportunity. 

I telegraphed to Rosenbaum: 

Ask Moi in Loebel’s behalf how business prospects are at present. 
But mention nothing of Schlesinger. Expect wired reply from 
there and detailed report from Jassy. 


Kahn 

However, now I am meditating on what our next step could be 
Partir en guerre contre la Turquie [Go off to war against 


960 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Turkey]? We are not strong enough in public opinion, either, and 
have too many weak spots. Every one of those unfortunate 
scattered colonists is a hostage in the hands of the Turks. 

At present I can see only one more plan: See to it that Turkey’s 
difficulties increase; wage a personal campaign against the Sultan; 
possibly seek contact with the exiled princes and the Young Turks; 
and, at the same time, by intensifying Jewish Socialist activities 
stir up the desire among the European governments to exert pres- 
sure on Turkey to take in the Jews. 


June 1 1 

Terrible difficulties in the Bank. Incompetent or self-seeking 
people. Everything is bogged down. Lurie and Kann are making 
difficulties, because I did not let the Bank be turned into a Bank- 
ing House Lurie and Kann. 

* # * 

The Congress in London? 

I am taking my Basel troupe to London because I have reason to 
fear that I shall no longer have an audience in Basel. 

* * * 

The difference between myself and Sabbatai Zevi (the way 
I imagine him), apart from the difference in the technical means 
inherent in the times, is that Sabbatai made himself great so as to 
be the equal of the great of the earth. I, however, find the great 
small, as small as myself. 


J une i 7 

Hechler, who is back from Miihlbach after seeing Vdmb^ry, 
gives me the surprising news that Vdmb^ry has so far not even 
mentioned Zionism to the Sultan. Consequently he didn’t get a 
flat refusal either. Une fausse alerte [a false alarm], then. What 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 961 
t m make of this? Did VdmWry give an inaccurate report to 
Rosenbaum, or to Hechler? Or are they repeating . t mwrrectj^^ 
Bref [In short], on Saturday I am going o y 

Vimberv and find out the truth. , 

^According to Hechlers report, VdtnMry seems to be ready to 


June 17 


On the train, on the return trip from Miihlbach to Vienna. 

I left Vienna last night for Miihlbach to see Vimb^ry 14 hours 
by fast train — and now, after a stay of only five hours, I am on my 
way back, because my Pauline has taken to bed with an inflamed 
throat. 

I have met one of the most interesting men in this limping, 
70-year-old Hungarian Jew who doesn’t know whether he is more 
Turk than Englishman, writes books in German, speaks twelve 
languages with equal mastery, and has professed five religions, in 
two of which he has served as a priest. With an intimate knowledge 
of so many religions he naturally had to become an atheist. He told 
me 1001 tales of the Orient, of his intimacy with the Sultan, etc. 
He immediately trusted me completely and told me, under oath 
of secrecy, that he was a secret agent of Turkey and of England. 
The professorship in Hungary was merely window-dressing, after 
the long torment he had suffered in a society hostile to Jews. He 
showed me a lot of secret documents — though in the Turkish 
language, which I cannot read but only admire. Among them, 
handwritten notes by the Sultan. Hechler he immediately dis- 
missed brusquely: he wanted to be alone with me. He began: “I 
don’t want any money; I am a rich man. I can’t eat gold beefsteaks * 
ve got a quarter of a million, and I can’t spend half the interest 
1 get. If I help you, it’s for the sake of the cause.” 

Suul h £ me f the details o£ our P' an - hnds, «c. The 

Sultan, he confided, had sent for him in order to have him 

In English in the original. 


create 


962 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

an atmosphere more favorable to him in the European papers 
Could I help him with this? 

I gave an evasive answer. 

Throughout our conversation he kept getting back to the 
memorable events in his life which were indeed great. Through 
Disraeli he became an agent of England. In Turkey he began as a 
singer in coffee-houses; a year and a half later he was the Grand 
Vizier’s confidant. He could sleep at Yildiz, but thinks he might 
be murdered there. He eats at the Sultan’s table— on intimate 
terms, with his fingers from the bowl — but he cannot get the idea 
of poison out of his mind. And a hundred other things, equally 
picturesque. 

I said to him: “VdmWry bdcsi [Uncle Vdmbery]— may I call 
you what Nordau calls you?— write to the Sultan that he should 
receive me, because i) I can render him a service in the newspaper 
world, 2) the mere fact of my appearance will raise his credit. 

I should like it best if you were my interpreter.” 

But he is afraid of the hardships of summer travel. 

My time was up. It had not been settled whether he would do 
anything. First of all, whether he would immediately write to the 
Sultan about my audience. 

But he embraced and kissed me when I bade him goodbye. 

Hechler s face was all curiosity when he conducted me to the 
station. I told him nothing, and he was kind enough not to ask any 
questions. 

June 17, on the train 

Tomorrow I shall write Vdmb^ry as follows: 

Kedves Vdmbdry bdcsi [Dear Uncle VdmWry]: 

The Hungarian word is good: zsiddember [a Jewish man]. You 
are one, so am I. That is why we understood each other so quickly 
and fully perhaps even more on a human than on a Jewish plane, 
although the Jewish element is strong enough in both of us. Help 
me no » us * Write the S. (Cohn) that he should send for me, 




THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 963 

1) because I can help him with public opinion, 2) because my 
coming will improve his financial credit, even if he does not im- 
mediately accept my propositions. We can go into the details 
after the Congress, provided you come along and act as interpreter. 
An audience before the Congress will suffice me. Tackles [brass- 
tacks] afterwards. I don’t want to hokhmetzen [banter] with you, 
you will do our cause a tremendous service if you obtain an 
audience for me now. 

I understand what you intend to erect with your autobiography: 
a royal sepulchre. Crown your pyramid with the chapter: How I 
Helped Prepare the Homecoming of My People the Jews. 

The whole of your memorable life will appear as if it had been 
planned that way. 




June 19, Vienna 

The Rumanian emigrants are beginning to pass through here. 
An embarrassment for the A. lliance Israelite. 

Today, a band of 75 young fellows, who had been in the army, 
in shabby athletic clothes, looking miserable and bold. This is 
the way my first contingent in Palestine will look. 

These want to go to Canada. 


June 21 

VdmWry writes from Miihlbach that the business with the 
mamzer ben-nide [foully conceived bastard] (the Sultan) cannot 
be done in writing. 

I am answering him: 

Kedves batyam uram [My Dear Uncle]: 

That doesn’t sound comforting. You too are saying yavash [take 
it easy] like a bom T urk. But I have no time to lose. There certainly 
is no need for your mamser [bastard] to know that the matter is 
comparatively new to you. I think that “after long thought and 
mature consideration” you could recommend this expedient and 
remedy to him as the best. You surely don’t need to account to him 
for the number of chibouks [Turkish cigarettes] you have smoked 
and how many thousands of cups of coffee you have drunk in 
pondering this matter. 

Your first word to me was that you were no wonz-melammed 
[imbecile of a teacher]. I really do look upon you as a man of 
action, as a man of my race which I believe capable of any amount 
of energy. 

Disraeli once said to a young Jew: “You and I belong to a race 
who can do everything but fail.”* 

My dear* Vambery bacsi [Uncle Vdmb£ry]I we can do really 
everything, but we must be willing* 

• In English in the original. 


967 


968 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Be willing, Vdmbery bacsi! 

From the way you have described your relationship with him 
I don’t see why you shouldn’t write Cohn and say: “See here, send 
for that man. He’ll put an end to your shlemazeln [misfortunes] 
Listen to him, take a look at him, and you can always throw him 
out afterwards.” 

That’s all you need to say. But that much you must tell him— 
if you are willing. 


Sincerely and respectfully yours, 
Th. 


June2i 

Yesterday, while talking with people in the office of the Welt, 
I had an attack of brain anemia. My consciousness suddenly 
blacked out and my perception grew blurred, although I was able 
to observe myself closely during the spell and even cracked jokes 
with Schalit and Reich, the secretaries. 

After that I didn’t go to the Neue Freie Presse, but drove home 
and went to bed. The doctor ordered a two or three days’ rest. 

Hardly feasible. Always new excitements. Yesterday with 
Wolffsohn who gives me the impression of having gone over to 
Kann’s side. 

The Rumanian emigrants are on the march. 

I keep getting telegrams from fresh contingents who have started 
out. 

I am supposed to intervene in behalf of those who are being 
detained at the border. 

I must not and cannot do this any more, because I can’t support 
them here. 

Acts of cowardice: 

Benedikt asked me yesterday whether I knew anything about the 
Rumanian Jewish crisis. He said he needed a report. For he has 
received a threatening letter from a subscriber about the silence of 
the Neue Freie Presse. “Yes,” I said, “I’ve had reports, too, that 




THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 969 

Rutbv whom? Recommend someone! . . 

I recommended Goldbaum to him. But Goldbaum declar 
Jew nothing about the subject. He, who has written articles about 

it for the Welt! 

* * * 

I am writing to Alex today to tell the I.C.A. people that the 
desperadoes from Rumania are so desperate that they will some 
day hold the detenteurs des fonds publics juifs [withholders of the 
Jewish public funds] responsible for their delay in joining in with 

us. 


June 24 

Vdmbery replied from Miihlbach that I was a Giour [Infidel] 
who rushes up hill and down dale without heed for the Turkish 
ditches. Still, he had written the Sultan about us, but it was not 
certain whether the letter would get into his hands. 

# # * 

I shall write to Nuri to see to it that at least we get a telegraphic 
message from the Sultan at the Congress. 

The concerted action of the Powers against China, I shall say, 
is a serious lesson for T urkey. 

* * * 

At my Constantinople audience, October 1898, I told the 
German Kaiser: 

‘‘China is Pandora’s Box!” 

Not an incorrect prophecy. 


JU.lt *•} 

The Rumanian migrant groups wire me of their imminent 
arrival from the border or from Budapest. They want me to meet 


970 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

them. This is evidence of our people’s naivety their trust in me 
but also of the extent of their presumption. The “philanthropists" 
of Vienna don’t lift a finger, and I have no funds available for the 
poor. 

A chilling situation. 


June 26, 1900 

Hechler writes me today that Lord Rosebery is in town and 
advises me to call on him at his hotel. I’m not going to, because 
his superiority would be too great. In addition to his position he 
has the distinction of being a foreign visitor here. 

It’s different in England. There I am at least a foreigner. 

* * * 

Hungarian papers report that I organized the Rumanian emi- 
gration. My denial in the Welt of the 29th of the month is very 
necessary. It must go on the front page. 

The Jewish Chronicle had written that I was steering the emigra- 
tion to England in order to make a demonstration for Zionism. 

By denying this I am giving the desperadoes to understand that 
what I never advised them to do is the most effective demonstra- 
tion. 


June 29, Vienna 

Today, Koerber s card saying that he would like to see me once 
again. Sunday, 9 o clock in the morning. What does he want? My 
guess is: Rumanian Jews! 

In that case I would ask him to recommend me to Cohn. 

July 2, Vienna 

Was with Koerber yesterday. 

He had just wanted to see me before I went on vacation, because 
we hadn’t had a chat in such a long time. He had already discussed 
my proposals for preparing the election with several provincial 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER 2 L 971 

chiefs However, * present there could be no though, of d.ssolvtng 

f7shion on the basis 

obstruction. “You shertainly did thish shplendidly 
the Emperor’s words in the voice of a toothless old man He had 
also earned the Emperor’s approbation in the matter of Archdu e 
Franz Ferdinand’s marriage to Countess Chotek. Hungarian rime 
Minister Szdl had wanted to draft an omnibus bill which wou d 
have included arranging for the millennium and fine weather. 
Through his (K.’s) intervention, a simple declaration of renuncia- 
tion had been made, although it binds the future Emperor hand 
and foot. 

“Archduke Otto must be pleased,” I said. 

He made une moue dedaigneuse [a scornful grimace]: “That 
man didn’t care much about it,” he said. 

“And the Hungarians?” I asked. “If Countess Chotek has boys, 
in twenty years there might be an Imperial conflict.” 

This possibility, too, Koerber shrugged off with a disdainful 
smile. He did not believe it, he said. 

Then we again spoke about Austrian internal politics. He said 
he was now working on inducing the Czechs to make a declaration 
that they would not obstruct things in the future. 

“What are you going to give them in return?” I asked. 

“Nothing!” 

“The Germans won’t believe this.” 

“Well, they’re going to see that the Czechs aren’t getting any- 
thing,” he said. 

Then people will assume that there are secret promises for the 
Ut . Ure f ’^ l remarked. “The Czechs’ giving in can be made plausible 
° n Y ! 1 e e P uties appear to be yielding to pressure from their 
C«t,.ue„t, They win have to arrange for that pressure. Only 

r W „ ™ ans going t0 believe iL Then you can make 
he Czechs all the secret promises you wish.” 


972 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

After we had chatted like that for three quarters of an hour 
the doorman brought in a visiting card. 

I got up. 

“I have one more thing on my mind, Your Excellency,” I said 
“The question of the Rumanian Jews. This is a calamity that grows 
worse every day. I won’t even mention the humanitarian considera- 
tions. For Austria their transit is a calamity. What shall be done 
with these people? If you let them in, it’s an embarrassment, be- 
cause they are in terrible shape. If, on the other hand, you close 
the border, people say that your government is anti-Semitic, which 
public opinion tends to say anyway, since you have yielded to 
Lueger in the question of the Vienna election reform.” 

He nodded with a serious face. 

‘‘I’ve turned for advice to the Grand Duke of Baden. He thinks 
I ought to request the Sultan for an audience through the Austrian 
government and induce him to let the Rumanian Jews in. We can 
offer the Sultan some money for this.” I said “a Gold”* in the 
easy-going Viennese dialect and quite off-hand, as though it weren’t 
the most difficult thing, for which I have been trying in vain for 
years. 

Too bad you didn’t tell me that a couple o’ days ago. Goluchow- 
ski was still here then and I had a long talk with ’im.” 

‘‘Couldn’t Ambassador Calice be given instructions directly?” 

‘‘No, that can’t be done. That’s another department. And I don’t 
know how we stand with the Sultan. But I’m gonna speak with 
Count Sz&rhen** and then give you an answer.” 

I thanked him. 

“See you some more, then!” he said, dismissing me amiably. 


July 2 

Letter to Vdmb£ry. 

Kedves Vambery bacsi [Dear Uncle Vamb^ry]: 

Tegnap hosszan beszeltem az itteni elsovel, Kosarossival [Yester- 
• Translator's Note: “Dough.” 

** Translator s Note: The correct form of this name is Sz^chenyi. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 973 

day I conversed at length with the premier of this place, Basket- 
manl*— you understand?** I touched on the calamity of the 
Rumanian Jews passing through, and asked him whether it wasn t 
possible to ask Cohn through the local representative to send for 
me to talk about the conditions of their settling there. “Too bad 
that you didn’t tell me that two days ago,” he replied. At that time, 
you see, the head of this department was still here. Now he is on 
vacation. However, he intends to send for his deputy as soon as 
possible and discuss it with him. Note well: this is not just talk 

with him. 

Now, Kedves bacsi [dear uncle], I shall notify you by telegram 
whether this demarche [move] will take place. If so I would 
urgently request you to intervene with Cohn in whatever way you 
consider suitable, as quickly as you can, by telegram, if at all pos- 
sible, and to tell him that what comes to him in this form is some- 
thing highly useful to him (Cohn). 

Make him understand particularly that he will play a beautiful 
role if he takes in the homeless Jews. He will stand there as the 
benefactor of mankind, a generous man — and his benefaction will 
immediately bear interest and capital for him. Jewry all over the 
world will celebrate him. A revirement [sudden change] in the 
public opinion of the entire world! And at the same time he will 
have the gratitude of the other nations, those whom he has spared 
an influx of Jews. Surely all this is clear and true. 

Your sincere Nephew and Giour [infidel] 


Th. 


* • * 

Letter to N uri via Crespi : * * * 

Your Excellency: 

I judged it futile to send another memorandum. The matter is 
more than sufficiently familiar. 

• I.C., Koerber. 

## In English in the original. 

### In French in the original. 


974 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I think the difficulty lies elsewhere. 

Our best-intentioned friends perhaps do not dare to come for 
ward, though it is a matter of H.M.’s supreme benefit. 

To fill in this gap I have tried to find something else and to make 
the request for an audience come from another quarter. At this 
moment I do not know whether that will be successful. But I must 
reassure you, you and your associates, that success on the other tack 
will not lessen my gratitude to you in the slightest. 

You are dealing with a man of honor— forgive me for using this 
flattering term — who never finds a pretext for going back on his 
pledged word. Therefore you have precisely the same interest no 
matter what the circumstances may be. 

We must be, and continue to be, friends for the benefit and 

prosperity of Turkey, which we will perhaps rescue from all its 
difficulties. 

I beg you to bring to your master’s attention one completely new 
fact: the cooperation of the Powers in Chinal 

It is an interesting precedent and possibly a dangerous one for 
Turkey. You understand what I mean. Against all eventualities 
one must be able to protect oneself, to have a fleet to be reckoned 
with, etc. It is certain that you will never and nowhere realize this 
possibility except through us. 

The one among you who presents such a solution deserves to be 
Grand Vizier. 

One more thing. 

The Fourth Annual Zionist Congress will be held in London 
in August. The presiding officers of the Congress will, as every 
year, send a wire placing their homage at the foot of H.I.M. the 
Sultan’s throne. 

Please be kind enough to send me the proper wording for this 
telegram, and especially do all you can to see that we get a friendly 
and encouraging reply immediately. 

With deep respect and sincere friendship, I am 

Faithfully yours, 
Th. Herzl. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 975 

August 10, Hotel Langham, London 


In bed. 

I have been in bed for three days. The day after my arrival I was 
seized by a severe chill. I had already felt sick and wanted to go to 
bed. I immediately ran a temperature of 39.9.* It looked like 
malaria or the beginning of pneumonia. Two sleepless, feverish 
nights. I doubted that I would be able to open the Congress. 

Last night there was an improvement. But I am still very weak 
and haven’t even started working on my speech. 

Naturally, during these nights the high temperature caused the 
most colorful delirious visions to appear before my hot eyes. Two 
fine English nurses** attended me. The older, Sister Christine, on 
night duty, the younger, a very pretty one, whose name I don’t 
know, by day. They were like Good Fortune and Care in Heine’s 
poem.*** Good Dame Care pulled me out of the incipient serious 
illness before I fell prey to it. The Congress promises to be very 
well attended. 


London, August 14 

The Congress is the best attended so far. Its proceedings** are 
already in the newspapers. A hundred other people are now taking 
the notes, in memoriam [for the record]. 

I myself have not been inwardly touched so far. 

The Mass Meeting** in the East End on Saturday night was no 
longer a novelty to me. The cheering of the crowd means nothing 
to me. 

The only new note was the garden-party** in the Botanical 
Gardens on Sunday. The whole crowd kept trundling after me in 
a compact mass. I would have liked to enjoy the fine English gar- 
den, but I was smothered under royal honors. People watched me 
admiringly while I drank a cup of tea. They passed their children 

• Translator’s Note: 39.9 centigrade corresponds to over 104F. 

••In English in the original. 

••• Translator’s Note: A reference to Das Gluck ist eine leichte Dime by Heinrich 
Heine. 


976 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 

and introduced their ladies to me; old men wanted to kiss 
hand. I am always tempted to ask on such occasions: “Pardon ^ 
but why are you doing all this?” me ’ 

During yesterday’s afternoon session I turned the chairmansh' 
over to Caster and Nordau and fled to Kensington Gardens where 
in charming surroundings and with a view over the water, 1 had 
a cup of tea in peace. 


August 20 

On the boat from Dover to Calais. 

“The Fourth Zionist Congress is over.” 

It was a lot of noise, sweat, and drum-beating. Naturally there 
was no “work,” and yet the results were excellent. We have made 
a demonstration before the English world, and the demonstration 
has been noticed. On the whole, the English papers carried the 
kind of reports we could use and can still use. 

Our English colleagues think it probable that next year, when 
we come again in July at the height of the season* the Upper Jews* 
will swing our way. Seligmann the banker declared at a banquet 
that he already felt very close to us. Apparently he is only waiting 
for our success before joining in with us. Francis Montefiore told 
me yesterday, on our way home from a party on the Thames, that 
I should be on my guard against the Rothschilds. They would also 
come in, in order to take control of the Jewish State. Of course, 
we aren t that far along yet, and good Sir Francis seems to be a 
bit premature with his worries. Incidentally, he gave me the wel- 
come opportunity to have lunch with Mr. Barrington, Lord Salis- 
bury s private secretary. I talked a blue streak at him, and it seems 
that I succeeded in getting him a little interested in us. 


Aussee, August 29 

Only now am I beginning to recuperate from the wear and tear 
of London and of my illness. 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 977 

I received a reassuring letter from Vimbthy. He wrote the 
Sultan about our cause and didn’t get a negative reply. Of course, 
he doesn’t seem to have received a positive one, either. 

In London I let the A.C. dissuade me from promoting the idea 
of reciprocity as coming from the Congress. That is to say, the idea 
of a subscription which entitles anyone who is beggared in an anti- 
Jewish riot to receive the minimum sum required for moving 
elsewhere. I think it would have been a tremendous propaganda 
item, but I was not in an energetic enough mood to carry it 
through. A slogan like “capture the communities” would have 
been effective. 

This way nothing will be done until I convene the Congress 
again. 

We shall have financial difficulties in the A.C. Have them al- 
ready. But I have seen to it that our repayment instalments on last 
year’s floating debt are paid promptly. It reminds me of the way 
I introduced the representative system at the First Congress, sans 
en avoir l’ air [without seeming to do it]. 

With this borrowing and paying I am laying the foundation for 
our State credit, no matter how small the amounts may be. 


September 2, Aussee 

The day before yesterday and yesterday I couldn t quite make 
up my mind to congratulate the Sultan on his jubilee. However, 
today it nags me like a neglected duty, and so I am wiring: * 

To His Imperial Majesty, 

Caliph Abdul Hamid Khan, 

Yildiz, Constantinople. 

In the name of the Zionists of all countries I have the honor of 
offering at the foot of your throne the warmest and sincerest wishes 


* In French in the original. 


978 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

for the prosperity and long duration of the glorious reim of Yn 
Imperial Majesty. ° our 


Dr. Theodor Herzl, 

President of the Central Zionist Committee, 
Turkenstrasse 9, Vienna. 


September 3, Aussee 

The newspapers report a “domestic crisis.” Koerber is to be 
dismissed or the Reichsrat dissolved. My advice to dissolve it that 
time after the obstruction was not bad. Is Koerber thinking of my 
wise counsel now? I am writing him today: 

Your Excellency: 

The newspapers, for which I have a professional distrust, of 
course, tell about the imminent dissolution of the Reichsrat. This 
seemed to me like the remedy some time ago. Now my— forgot- 

ten?-outline for the preparation of an election becomes somewhat 
timely again. 

I shall return to Vienna at the end of this week. Perhaps I can be 
of use in some way. 

With deep respect. 


Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 
Th. Herzl. 


September 18 

The day before yesterday, Sunday, I was in Pest to see Vtimbthy. 
Atmosphere of the city of my youth. 

However, the practical results of the trip were close to zero. 

m £ry again told me a lot about himself — the things he had 
already related at Muhlbach. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 979 

He gave me his word of honor that the Sultan would receive me 
by May. 

To be sure, I don’t quite understand how he can give me ms 
word about something that doesn’t depend upon himself. But I 
must be satisfied with anything. 

For the rest, I am quite weary. 


September 20, Vienna 

These days I am often so listless and so lacking in energy that 
I don’t enter even major and interesting happenings. Naturally 
they are then forgotten. 

And my situation is strange enough. Around the time of the 
Congress I was a master. Now I am a servant again, like Ruy Bias, 
and whose servant! Every day I report to the boss, Dr. Bacher, who 
is sometimes gracious and sometimes ungracious. 

On top of that, the great financial sacrifices I have made for the 
movement are weighing heavily upon me. I have done too much, 
and simultaneously with my lack of psychic energy I become con- 
scious of my economic debility, which in turn worsens my mood. 

* * # 

On the evening of my arrival at Pest, while listening to gypsy 
music, I ran into Ahmed Tewfik, the Turkish ambassador in 
Berlin. We chatted until half past midnight about Wilhelm and 
Abdul Hamid, etc. 


September 20, Vienna 

Une idee qui me hante [An idea that haunts me] is the emer- 
gency insurance which I wanted to launch in London and from 
which I was deterred by the opposition of the leaders. 

Yesterday I again brought it up in the A.C. It is the only thing 
we can do. A mutual Jewish emergency insurance. The insured 
victims of Jewish persecution will receive a minimum amount for 
moving. In the Rumanian exodus it turned out that 200 guilders 


980 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

per person (or family?) were needed. That amount could not be 
raised from private charity. Some guarantee must be procured f 0 J 
the people who are driven out. Everyone must acquire this pij 
antee for himself by purchasing a policy. Of every hundred people 
paying two guilders, one can become a needy case. The main thing 
of course, is to define a needy case and to prevent insurance fraud 

This would have to be construed on the analogy of the accident- 
insurance business. I imagine the seat of the company in Basel. 

Higher insurances with rapidly progressing premiums could also 
be accepted. 

If the annual premium for 200 guilders is two guilders, the 
premium for 400 would be five or six; for 1000 guilders, not five 
times that amount, but ten times or more, because then an indi- 
vidual case of damage immediately constitutes a series. 

To my astonishment, Kokesch, who usually thinks very cau- 
tiously and terre d terre [with both feet on the ground], was on my 
side. This encouraged me greatly. 


October 1, Vienna 

Nothing from Vdmbdry. 

The matter seems to be falling asleep again with him. 

Today I am writing the following to Nuri: * 

Your Excellency: 

More than a year has passed since I had the honor and the 
pleasure of seeing you at the Hotel Imperial. 

And nothing, nothing has happened. 

I hear from Constantinople that the matter of the Hejaz route is 
the current issue. 

If we are given the Colonization Charter we are asking for, we 
undertake to build the Hejaz railroad or else to supply the 
necessary funds. If you have any useful connections who will profit 
°m it, you can pass on this proposal to the proper person. I shall 
provi e all explanations and guarantees if H.M. summons me. 

• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 981 

I await your favorable reply as early as possible and assure you of 
my great esteem. 

Th. Herzl. 

P.S. One of my friends, Mr. Kremenezky, whom you know — he 
came to see you at the hotel— is interested in setting up a factory on 
the shore of the Dead Sea in Palestine. He has talked to me about 
it several times and I have always forgotten to ask you the name of 
the concessionaire of the Dead Sea shores. He tells me that it is a 
Moslem. It will be easy for you to give me this information. 


October 5 

The memory of some mistakes that I have made keeps torment- 
ing me. 

My greatest mistake so far was not waiting for the Kaiser at the 
entrance gate of the Jews. At that time I thought it would be better 
not to, because then he might have regarded that reception as the 
one to which he had ordered the Zionist deputation, and I wished 
to have a special solemn audience of our own. 

However, for the Kaiser, who has a penchant for symbolic acts, 
it would have been the right thing if I, whom he regarded as the 
head of all Jews, had waited for him at the threshold of our city of 
Jerusalem and had greeted him there. 

That is when he may have turned away from me. I realize this 
only now. 

Another mistake was my not writing the Grand Duke of Hesse a 
sufficiently courteous and court-like letter when I asked him to in- 
tercede with the Czar. 


October 5 

The English Zionist Federation’s poll of the candidates for Par- 
liament is very clever. 

60 have declared themselves in favor of Zionism. 


982 THE COMPLETE DIARiES OF THEODOR HERZL 
.ongrimT"”' ^ ‘ hat h3S bC “ ' aken “ ° Ur f»ra 


October ^ 

After keeping silent for a long time and failing to react to two of 
my letters, Koerber suddenly calls me again. I am to come to* 
him at the Mimstry of the Interior tomorrow morning. 
Quepeut-il bien vouloir [what on earth does he want]? 


Koerber just wanted to have a general talk. 

However, the immediate occasion seems to have been what he 
comtders the dtsagreeable attitude of the Neue Freie Presse in the 
Italian-Tyrolian question. 

* ^ ”°” e t0 ° WeU informed about the whole thing, and just 
p esumed that it was a matter of a demand for autonomy which 
had been made by the Italian inhabitants of the Tyrol and had 
« ^ JCCt ?- But 1 P retended to be completely au courant [in- 

explanation^ 1 ^ 1 Spared a m ° re detailed 

nr ^. Iega f ^ he S eneraI situation in Austria, we exchanged ap- 

Lmmer ' 7 ^ We had in the S P rin S and in th * 

i • ^ k n ° dc ^’ ^ our Excellency, that you are not running the 
electtons, but are letting them run themselves.” 

nof m 7^ ere J s n ° ot£ler wa y- The provincial chiefs reported that 
not much can be done.” y 

Sn 1 Efficiency of the provincial chiefs to blame for 

He: “What can be done is being done.” 
refer™ about the absurdities of the parties, with special 

memai f T w ^° only recently made such monu- 

mental fools of themselves in the person of the mayor of Trautenau 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 983 

/who had addressed a request to the office of the Emperor’s advisers 
to have the competing convention of the German-Radicals pro- 

h He told me about the Emperor and how high he was in the 
latter’s favor. This was evidenced recently at Gorz where the Em- 
peror talked with him all the time at dinner, so that Cal ice, the 
ambassador at Constantinople, told him afterwards: “It’s been a 
long time since anyone has enjoyed so much confidence from the 
Emperor!” 

I had my own ideas at the mention of Calice whose intercession 
with the Sultan for an audience would be bread and butter to me, 
but I didn’t say anything, because the moment was not opportune. 

Gorz, he went on to say, had been a great worry. All the authori- 
ties, especially the lesser ones, had trembled for fear of an Anarchist 


plot. Every minute the departure of a notable Anarchist was re- 

1 1 4. I «... a 1 ^ Li. T /-I 4* r\ A 

nArfo/i i in o mnmpn t 






next moment another from Paris or Vienna. But the journey to 
Gorz could not be cancelled; it had been decided on months ago, 
and at that time no one knew that the King of Italy was going to be 
assassinated. In short, the trip to Gorz was made in real fear, and 
Koerber had to go along, otherwise people would have said that he 
was afraid or was deserting the Emperor. 

A strong police detail was called out, and fortunately everything 
went all right. Everyone was glad to have returned from this patri- 


otic celebration safe and sound. 

He related a number of other things about the Emperor, who, he 
said, let him do everything but did not give him the proper sup- 
port. E.g., a lot could be done with the feudal landed proprietors 
with appropriate pressure. But the Emperor did not help out in 
this regard. 

I brought him Lobkowitz. That man shook before the audi- 


ence; but when he came out, he was even a lot prouder. The Em- 
peror didn’t tell him a thing.” 

So the pesky German-Bohemian dispute goes on. 

He also repeatedly spoke about the newspapers that are attack- 


984 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

ing him. I took the opportunity to say: "What is needed is a h 
decent paper that you could lean on.” 1§l 

“Well, who’s going to start one?” 

“That could be arranged, Your Excellency. Only the fund 
would have to be made available . 99 

“By whom?” he said. “Krupp has already given a lot and by now 
has become skittish.” y 

He liked the idea of a newspaper, however, and asked me not to 
drop the matter and to discuss it with him if I found something. I 
could come any time I wanted to. 

He repeatedly averred that he would be glad if he could leave 
office. He didn’t get enough sleep. “I'm sleepy. I’d like to sleep my 

fill some time. First thing I’ll do when I’m overthrown is to hit the 
hay for three days.” 

But despite this Austrian beefing he did not give me the impres- 
sion of being tired of governing. I said: “The policy you represent 
is the only one with a future in Austria — if Austria has a future.” 

He made a wry face and shrugged his shoulders meaningfully, as 

though there were nothing he was less convinced of than Austria’s 
future. 

Our conversation had lasted for exactly one hour when he dis- 
missed me and asked me to come again soon. 

He has never had, and never will have, a more selfless helper 
than me me who doesn t want a blessed thing but a recommenda- 
tion from the government to the Sultan. Naturally I didn’t come 
out with it today, because I still have no claim to repayment. I told 
him, among other things, that I would never run a semi-official 
paper. “Because it doesn’t do you any good if it says in the paper: 
The Prime Minister is the greatest statesman.’ ” 

He completely shared this view of mine, and we parted en gens 
qui sont de meche [like two conspirators]. 


October 14 

A curious incident. Tout se tient [Everything is just as it was]. 
Dr. Ehrlich, whom I had had introduce me to Koerber, wanted 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 985 

to speak with me yesterday. He told me that Koerber had inquired 
about me in connection with a newspaper that was to be started. 
Ehrlich had answered: “I know Dr. H. as a stylist. Whether he can 
start a newspaper I don’t know. In any case, you mustn’t forget 
that he represents Zionism.” 

So this was advice against it. Ehrlich didn’t want me to learn it 
from Koerber somehow or other and told it to me of his own ac- 
cord. Evidently he gave me a more harmless version of what he had 

said to Koerber. 

It seems to me that Koerber will now drop the idea. It was my 
scheme to propose Zionism to him as a secondary matter, panache 
[trimming], and camouflage. An idea out of a comedy, really: true 
love as paravent [a screen]. 

This plan, too, like others, has gone up in smoke, thanks to a 
good friend who has himself notified me “loyally” of what he has 
done. 


October 15 

I have just had a letter from Crespi (Nun) saying that their 
government had “un besoin pressant de y—800 mille Ltqu [a press- 
ing need for 7—8 hundred thousand T urkish pounds] . and wanted 
to give customs revenues as guarantee, with 6%, even 6i/£%, 
interest. 

I am to appear as deus ex machina [a god from the machine] and 
help, et une fois I’affaire terminee [and once the business is com- 
pleted], H.M. will receive me. 

I am sending the following telegram in reply:* 

You may say that we will make offers for the advance of the seven 
hundred against the guarantee mentioned in your letter on condi- 
tion that I can negotiate directly with n.c. 363. The matter can be 
settled in a very short time. 

• In French in the original. 


986 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

But kindly note that I will do nothing unless I am called by gfi 
to present my offers to him in person. * ^ 

* * * 

I am asking 614% in order to make the thing plausible. If 1 
weregentil [nice] about the conditions, it would bear the stamnof 
improbability. ^ 1 


October 17 

I was summoned to Koerber again today, and he spoke for an 
hour de omni re scibili [about everything under the sun], I ex- 
pounded to him the idea of founding a newspaper, and it seemed 
to make a lot of sense to him. However, whether anything will come 
of it is uncertain. The only clue that it matters to him is the fact 
that he gave me a whole hour of his time and kept some titled 
gentleman waiting outside. 


October 18 

Bulow Imperial Chancellor! 

Not good for us. Nevertheless, I am congratulating him “on the 
new chapter in the history of the German Empire.” 


October 22. 

A telegram of thanks from Bulow. 

It is ever so nice of a great lord . . .* 


October 26 

Yesterday the Turkish Consul-General, von Dirsztay,” n£ 
ischl from Pest, came to see me at the office and brought me a 

to 1 Me P histo P he,es ’ words at the end of the Prologue in Heaven 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 987 

letter, half in code, from Crespi, Nuri’s straw man. Crespi offers 
his services, because he is the real power. He wants to come to 
Vienna. So evidently it is a matter of the travelling expenses. Since 
Dirsztay told me that he was sure Crespi was in a position to 
accomplish something— he had repeatedly convinced himself of 

that I told him he could write Crespi that he would get 1000 

francs from me if he really had some serious proposition to make. 


October 30 

Is it possible that we are closer to a decision than I myself 
believed? 

When I came home last night I found the following telegram 
from Crespi waiting for me, apparently a reply to Dirsztay’s letter 
to him.* 

Theodor Herzl, Karl-Ludwigstrasse 50, Vienna, from Pera. 

If on day after receiving this you can deposit on account two 
hundred thousand T urkish pounds on loan of seven hundred thou- 
sand with six percent interest, I shall place proposal at foot of 
Imperial throne before Ramadan; hope you will then be officially 
called to palace. Wire, Crespi. 

# * * 

Since it can’t be assumed now that Crespi in Pera would dare 
to send off en clair [in the open] a telegram containing mention of 
throne and palace if it were not on the level, the thing is to be taken 
seriously. 

I am answering: * 

E. Crespi, Constantinople, Pera. French Mail. 

You now speak of six percent after having started with six and 
a half. But this difficulty will probably be surmountable if I can 
personally be convinced of the fact that the general disposition of 

• In French in the original. 


988 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

363 is in our favor. The deposit of the two hundred as an instal 
ment on our loan of seven hundred will be made during the We k 
following my reception — ° e 

My plan of campaign in the event that I am summoned by the 
Sultan has been ready for a long time. 

I shall immediately have Wolffsohn and Katzenelsohn come 
here. Wolffsohn must go to The Hague to see Kann and ask him if 
he can possibly place the £700,000 at 6% with Dutch bankers 
As a reward I shall let him back into the Colonial Trust. 

Katzenelsohn must make the same attempt with Polyakov Brod- 
sky, etc. 

While I go to Constantinople, they go to The Hague and St. 
Petersburg, so that I shall have their wires when I arrive. 

I shall send Kokesch to London to push the issuing of 50,000 

bearer shares which will then immediately be sent to Russia to be 
sold. 

All agents will be asked to call meetings. 

On the day on which my audience with the Sultan is announced, 
1000 popular rallies with share subscription must take place. 

Oskar Marmorek will be sent to Pest in order to invite Vdmb&y 
to go to Constantinople with me. 

Kremenezky will come to Constantinople with me. 

Alex Marmorek is to advise I.C.A. and Edmond R. that I shall 
come to Paris. 

A meeting of the English Federation will be called for the day 
of my arrival in London from Constantinople. 

Iam ready * 

And now probably nothing will come of it. 


November 6 

On Saturday Dirsztay again called me by telephone. This time 
I went to his place. With an important air he handed me letters 
from Crespi which contained nothing but drivel. 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 989 

Still, I authorized him to let Crespi come. Question of 1000 
francs travelling expenses. 

I went along with it only because Dirsztay really is the Turkish 
Consul-General and, even more really, a millionaire. Consequently 
it can’t be a matter of doing me out of 1000 francs. 

Today I wrote to Wolffsohn asking him to go to The Hague to 
see Kann and ask him whether he can raise the £700,000 from 
Dutch bankers. As a reward I would let him into the Trust again. 


November 9 

The Vienna Allianz and Community people are frightened out 
of their wits because we are getting into the Community elections 
and demanding an Extraordinary General Assembly of the Alli- 
anz to discuss its cruelty toward the Rumanian Jews. 

Dr. Alfred Stem has already been to see me at the N. Fr. Pr. 
three times to beg me to halt our steps “in these times.” On his 
first visit he offered me a seat on the governing body of the Com- 
munity. Naturally I refused and laughed at him. On his second 
visit, the day before yesterday, I kept him waiting for such a long 
time that he left in a huff. Then I wrote him a letter apologizing 
for having been tied up and stating at the same time that no com- 
promise could be effected in this matter. Thereupon he came 
yesterday with the “material” of the correspondence with the Pest 
Community, which, however, proves only the accuracy of last 
week’s article in the Welt. 

He proposed a confidential discussion between our gentlemen 
and the officers of the A llianz. 

And what is to be the upshot? I asked. Do you intend to remove 
the guilty officers? 

If need be, yesl was his reply. 

Then he left with Bacher whom he wanted to brief on it. Which 
is to say that he wishes to have some pressure exerted on me 
through Bacher and Benedikt. 

Again a few days of war in sight. 


990 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

November la 

We have reached a low-water mark. Our cash-box has hit rock 
bottom. A few hundred guilders, which is not even sufficient t 
meet the demands of the first of December. 

But I am tired of giving money or of asking others for it. 

The other members of the A.C. are bewildered. 


November 13 

Yesterday at Oskar Marmorek’s house I met the Paris engineer 
and millionaire Reitlinger who [ ]* my old plan to buy up 

the Turkish national debt, which one could get for 4-500 million 
francs, and to offer the Turkish government liberation from the 
dette pubhque [public debt] in return for the cession of Palestine. 

We intend to get back to this later. 

* # * 

Wolffsohn wires from The Hague that Kann is ready to under- 
take the arrangements for the Turkish loan only on direct order. 
This does not suit me, for I must get the credit; only the cash may 
fall to the share of Kann and his associates.** Therefore I am writ- 
ing Wolffsohn that Kann should first secure the money; then he 
will receive the orders through my good offices. 


November 14 

The idea of redeeming the Turkish debt occupies me greatly. 
I must bend every effort to speak with Lord Rothschild. Today 
I am writing to Cowen, our most capable man in England, to in- 
duce Lord R. to send for me before we have Zionism brought up 
in the House of Commons by the “Zionist” deputies. 

• Tr a nsla tor ’ s N° te: Verb missing in the original. 
yerdiem^nTdlr^TdiensT 1 °" the difference in meaning between das 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 991 

November 15 

After consultation with my father and Kremenezky I am tele- 
graphing the following to Crespi. 

jj argent est pret. Pourquoi ne me donnez-vous pas de nouvelles 
[The money is ready. Why don’t you send me any news]? 


November 16, Vienna 

Today Dirsztay telephoned me and told me that Crespi will 
arrive here on Wednesday. 

Our greatest problem now is the thousand francs for Crespi ’s 
travelling expenses. One of the curiosities of this episode is that 
we have trouble raising such 1000 francs, while we can regard the 
large amounts as assured. 

* # * 

A wire from Wolffsohn saying that Kann will write me the letter 
I need: his firm is making the £700,000 available on sufficient 
security. 

# # * 

A letter from Vdmb^ry in reply to my last letter. He says that he 
immediately wrote to the Sultan, requesting a wired answer 
whether that story about a loan was true. If it is, he intends to go 
there immediately and have me follow him; then the chances for 
our project would be favorable. 


November 17 

Hechler thinks that I ought to express to the Kaiser, through 
the Grand Duke, my joy at the fact that yesterday’s attempted assas- 
sination at Breslau was happily averted. I do so:* 

Most Illustrious Grand Duke, 

Most Gracious Lord and Master: 

• These words are in English in the original. 


992 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

The news of the attempt to assassinate His Majesty the Kaiser 
which has with the help of God been successfully frustrated 
suddenly made me, like so many other people, feel again what this 
magnanimous ruler of such uncommonly great intellectual gifts 
means to all those who are privileged to know him. Since the 
memorable days at Jerusalem in the year 1898 Kaiser Wilhelm 11 
has been a dear and sincerely venerated figure to all Zionists on 
the face of the earth. On such a serious occasion I should more 
than ever like to avoid giving the impression of pushing myself 
forward, and therefore refrain from sending to Berlin the expres- 
sion of my great joy at the Kaiser’s rescue from mortal danger. I 
may be permitted, however, to express my loyal sentiments to Your 
Royal Highness, the Kaiser’s paternal friend, with the most respect- 
ful request to bring them to His Majesty’s notice as occasion offers. 

With the deepest respect and most heart-felt gratitude, I remain 

Y.R.H.'s ever obedient 
Dr. Th. H. 


November 18 

Received today from Lissa & Kann, The Hague, a written offer 
in which the firm undertakes to make a loan of 800,000 Turkish 
pounds at 6% if sufficient security is offered. Specifically, £ 200,000 
upon the signing of the contract, £520,000 within six months. 

I am acknowledging this letter with the following note: 

Messieurs Lissa and Kann, The Hague. 

Gentlemen: 

I received today your kind communication of Nov. 16, 1900. 

I shall send you more detailed information in the course of this 
week. 


Very truly yours, 
Dr. Th. H. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 993 

November 20 

Talked again yesterday with Reitlinger of Paris who gave me 
a few additional clever details implementing the redemption of 
the Turkish debt. We agreed that I shall summon him to join 
me in London if Cowen manages to arrange a conference with 
Lord Rothschild. 

Cowen writes me that he intends to use the short Parliament 
week to arrange a meeting with the 31 M.P.’s who have expressed 
themselves in favor of Zionism. That would be a plausible oppor- 
tunity* for Lord R. 

* # # 

The manufacturer von Engel came to Reitlinger’s suite in the 
Hotel Imperial in order to take me and Oskar Marmorek to see 
Klinger, the president of the Community. The latter, a sentimental 
Tartuffe, buttered me up, tried to entice me to join the governing 
body of the Community, declared that at heart he was more of a 
Zionist than O. Marmorek, and, when he got warmed up, more of 
a Zionist than I. 

They would like to make a compromise with us, but not with 
the Jiidischer Volksverein. Presumably he tells the same thing in 
reverse to the Volksverein people. 

I finally stated that I would content myself with two seats (Dr. 
Kahn and Mohr). Even that was too much for him. 

Yet conciliation appears hopeful. 


November 24 

David Gutmann invites me to a “peaceable” discussion of the 
Rumanian scandals at the A llianz. 


November 24 

Crespi hasn’t come. As Dirsztay told me over the phone, he 
telegraphed that he isn’t coming until two weeks from now. 

I am wiring Crespi : * * 

• In English in the original. 

• # In French in the original. 


994 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

If you don’t inform me of the result of your activity immediately 
I shall withdraw my offer of seven hundred. I don’t want to remain 
at your disposal indefinitely. 


November 26 

Yesterday’s Community election a gratifying defeat. Our candi- 
dates almost elected with big minorities. 

* * * 

Cowen and Greenberg are doing splendid work in England to 
make possible a meeting between myself and Lord Rothschild. 
Greenberg made a speech to this end at Glasgow. Cowen writes me 
they would call on R. if I had really serious things to tell him. I am 
wiring him: Most serious things, hut he must desire the meeting 
and not as a favour to us.* 

November 27 

Had a long conversation with coal-Baron Gutmann yesterday. 
He will agree to everything so as to avoid a scandal in the Allianz. 
I am demanding the resignation of the officers who have incurred 
some responsibility in the Rumanian emigration, to be replaced 
by our representatives. The question of blame is to be decided by 
a tribunal I am also demanding that Oskar Marmorek be given 
a seat on the board of the Hirsch Foundation. He was very sub- 
dued. I felt pity for the rich man when I saw the empty desk of his 
recently-deceased son, who made fun of me a long time ago because 
I wanted to found a Jewish State. 


November 24 

Telegram from Crespi: 

Patientez encore quelques jours. Affaire tres bonne voie. Ecris 

[Be patient a few days more. Matter well under way. Am writing]- 
Crespi.” 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 995 

November 30, Vienna 

The Allianz has set a trap for me. After I had accepted in writ- 
ing Gutmann’s oral proposal that we settle the matter through an 
amicable exchange of opinion, with the concession that our repre- 
sentatives be co-opted as council members, he writes that because 
of my conditions they reject this form. They are as sly as they are 
stupid. Public discussion will end with the destruction of the 
Allianz. 


November 30 

Brilliant letter from Crespi. He has discussed the matter with 
the Grand Vizier, the First Secretary, and the Minister of Finance. 
The loan will be made under last year’s conditions of the Deutsche 
Bank. The 1st Secretary told Crespi that Vdmbery had recom- 
mended my proposals to the Sultan. However, the Secretary fears 
trouble if I were summoned officially and the loan did not material- 
ize. Crespi said one could make inquiries about me of the German 
Kaiser. 

Perhaps there is some connection between this and the fact that 
yesterday the German Embassy telephoned the Welt about me. 
However, until now, 1 1 o’clock in the morning, I have heard no 
details. 


* # # 

Telegram to Wolffsohn: 

Kohn’s baldov [spokesman] visiting me day after tomorrow. 
Regarding the conditions I learn that they are the same as those 
obtained by Deebee last year. You introduced yourself and Hagen 
to Deebee with recommendation from my Uncle. Try immedi- 
ately to learn inconspicuously Deebee’s last year’s conditions. 
Notify Hagen of this and make sure he stays home Sunday, Mon- 
day. My father thinks that Jayceetee should take over Halewi in 
company with Hagen and carry it out jointly. Jayceetee could 
take over one-seventh and thus facilitate transaction. Benjamin. 


996 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR H ER ZL 

November 30> evening 

A telegram just came from Crespi saying that he will arrive her , 
on Sunday morning. ere 


The cash-box of the A.C. is so empty that after payment of the 
December salaries etc. we shall not have the i ooo francs for Crespi 
I also feel a bout de forces [at the end of my strength] and for 
the past few days have had more serious attacks of weakness than 
ever. Actually, the thought of retiring only now hits me with force 
Perhaps I am writing this in the hope of remembering it in 

better days. So as to be able to say then: when the need was 
greatest, etc 

I am, of course, too complicated a person to keep a naive diary, 
even though I make an effort not to pose. I always feel the future 
peering over my shoulder. 


December 3 

sterday morning, then, the Turkish agent Crespi arrived at 
my p ace in company with von Dirsztay, the Consul-General. 

, reS ^ , ° T eSn 1 ma ^ e a ^ a< f impression. A skinny, wax-yellow, black- 
earded Levantine. Appearance of a second- or third-rate diplo- 
t e necktie over the white vest too loud, the rosette in the 
orning coat too pretentious. But he calls a spade a spade and 
3 ankly a k° ut t b e people in power in Constantinople. He 
C . w b et ber I had received the telegram yet. For he thinks 

the Suhan 11 ^ ^ 3Ve come e * l ber yesterday or today: the summons to 

ut, he said, I must not speak about Zionism at the reception, 
y only offer my services to procure an advance. Because it was 
matter of an advance and not a loan. An advance to be paid back 
n a ew months, since the customs receipts were the bread and 
utter of the Turkish finances. When they need money at Yildiz, 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 997 

they send out to the customs pay-office. The advance is to be given 
on a note from the Turkish government. I observed that in the 
opinion of my friends a loan and not an advance had been in- 
volved, and I explained Kann’s offer to him, without mentioning 
Kann by name. 

The margin of £80,000 immediately made sense to him, and he 
plans to report about it to Nuri and the Minister of Finance. 

As regards Zionism, he thinks the only reason the Turks are not 
willing is that they are afraid of intervention on the part of the 
Powers. If the Jews were allowed to immigrate, the Powers would 
immediately send battle-ships to Jaffa and seize Palestine. I said 
it would be our concern to bring the Powers round. To which he 
replied that if I could make the Sultan understand this the cause 
would be won. This was the only misgiving the Sultan had. I asked 
whether I could take V 4 mb£ry along to Constantinople. Crespi 
said that this would even be an enormous advantage, because V. 
has access to the Sultan at any time. Vdmb^ry’s recommendation, 
he said, had done me a tremendous amount of good anyway. At 
first they were going to make inquiries about me in Vienna and 
Berlin. But when V’s letter recommending my proposals came, 
nothing else was required. 

He chatted some more about this and that. We could easily get 
the Dead Sea concession, he said, if we guaranteed the Sultan a 
share of the net profits of the industries. Furthermore: the Sultan 
had not been able to deliver the “Dormition” plot to the German 
Kaiser to this day, because the Sheik-ul-Islam was opposed to it. 

Once I was in contact with the Sultan, I could ask him to appoint 
a committee consisting of all ministers for the examination of the 
Zionist proposals. 

Then came Kremenezky whom I had sent for to pay Crespi the 
1000 francs travelling expenses contre regu [against receipt]. I laid 
particular stress on this little thoughtfulness. He was to see and 
talk about how quickly and easily we pay off our friends. 

What difficulties for the A.C. this little payment involves no 
one suspects. 


998 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

December 3 

Two evenings ago there came a brilliant report from Cowen 
about the project of a conference with Lord Rothschild. Cowen 
and Greenberg are doing the splendid work I expected of them. 
Cowen ’s dialogue report about Greenberg’s conversation with 
Ascher, Rothschild’s private secretary, is a masterpiece. Ascher 
asked why I didn’t write Rothschild and request a conference. 
Greenberg brushed this off ironically: I would never do such a 
thing. Whereupon Ascher suggested a meeting at some third 
place, possibly at Seligmann’s . — Va bene [That’s all right]. 

* * * 

Yesterday’s telegram to Kann (Dec. 2): 

Kann, Villa Anna, Scheveningen. 

Baldov brought me favorable news from Cohnheim. Halewi 
(loan) will be made on basis of control of all Zolent (customs 
revenues). Expecting Cohn’s invitation to go there any day. But 
Halewi must be taken care of in all secrecy. First payment middle 
December. Are you ready? Wire reply. Benjamin. 

* * * 

To which this reply came today: 

Confirming letter of my firm. Leaving here tomorrow morning, 
arriving Berlin Wednesday evening. Kann. 


December 3 

This morning I wired Kann, The Hague: 

In place of Halewi (loan) could you make short-term advance 
same amount against note from Leier (Turk, govt.) guaranteed by 
Zolent.- 1 Or could you at least advance two hundred middle 
December for six months? Wire reply, Benjamin. 

* * * 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 999 

I am writing Vdmtery that I shall call him to the telephone 
at the National Casino tomorrow afternoon to give him the news 
about Cohn. “Are you ready to go with me?”* 


December 4 

Nothing has come from Constantinople up to now; the telegram 
announced by Crespi seems to have been flimflam, and his whole 
coming here a little adventure. Perhaps he wanted to feel my 
pulse first and only now will get to work. 

At any rate, making his acquaintance wasn’t worth a thousand 

francs. 

Yesterday I saw him again at Dirsztay’s. He ran Nuri Bey down, 
told all sorts of Levantine gossip about Constantinople, and 
promised me that he would be my slave. I have seldom seen such 
readiness to sell everything. 

Incidentally, he also made suggestions that aren’t bad. E.g., that 
I should have the English government give me an invitation to lead 
the Jewish emigrants to the Transvaal. That would make a good 
impression on the Sultan. 

This very day I am writing in this vein to Cowen, saying that 
Francis Montefiore should ask Mr. Barrington for such an invita- 
tion. 

Yesterday too Crespi telegraphed to Constantinople, mais rien 
n’est venu [but nothing came of it]. He explains this to me by 
saying that the cabinet council might have been in favor of it at 
their Sunday meeting, but might have been unable to persuade the 
Sultan to send for me. For the Sultan was proud, did not want to 
ask for any money, and told the ministers who complained about 
empty coffers: “Look for it! What did I make you a minister for? 
Just dig up the money any place you can.” 

The Minister of Finance had complained to him, Crespi, that 
there was only £10,000 in the treasury, and of this 150,000 was 
supposed to be spent for the Ramadan, and a few weeks later an- 
other 130,000 for the Beiram (?) Plus debts, salaries of officials, etc. 

# In English in the original. 



1000 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

This reminds me of the treasury of the Actions Committee. 

Spicy detail: the local ambassador, Mahmud Nedim, is said to 
have given Crespi the job of getting him his back pay for the past 
twelve months. If they did not send him any money, he would 
resign his office, “et il fera du chantage [and he would blackmail 
them].” 


December 4 

In reply to my question about an advance Kann laconically 
wires “No.” 


December 6 

Crespi appears to be a Levantine braggart, perhaps even a con- 
fidence man. Yesterday he called on me twice, together with 
Dirsztay. He would like to have a lump sum for expenses and the 
like; I flatly refused. First he should give some proof of what he 
could do, I said, then he would get some money from me. For 
nothing — nothing. 

In the afternoon he and Dirsztay came to see me at the N. Fr. Pr. 
and brought me a letter from Nuri. He writes that the Deutsche 
Bank made an offer that was accepted, although it wants to under- 
take the loan at an allotment rate of 75 to 78%, as compared to the 
90% offered by us. 

In my presence Crespi drafted a telegram to the Grand Vizier 
imploring him “dans Vinteret du gouvemement et de Sa Majesty 
[in the interest of the government and of His Majesty]” not to sign, 
because he had a better proposition to make. 

Dirsztay told me quietly he would see to it that Crespi did not 
swindle me with this telegram; it would have to be sent in his 
presence. 

In that case matters don’t stand badly, because the Sultan will 
certainly read the telegram. He will see that a better offer has been 
made. 

However, if nothing should come of it after all, I can have 
VdmWry draw the Sultan’s attention to the way he is being robbed, 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1001 

and if anyone should approach me again, I can demand a reception 
by the Sultan before definitely hiring someone. This way I shall 
not need Kann or any other financier beforehand. 


December 9 

Yesterday I was at Pest to see Vdmbery and to tell him the whole 
story about Crespi. 

On this occasion I learned that a group of German financiers or 
entrepreneurs, headed by one Herr Scholler of Berlin, had ad- 
dressed a request to Vdmb<hy to procure for them the concession 
for a German-Turkish bank from the Sultan. The proponents are 
said to include the Duke of Ujest and other aristocratic gentle- 
men — also, from Vienna, Baron Oppenheimer and, strangely 
enough, Consul-General Dirsztay too. This permits the surmise 
that Crespi was called here more for this matter than for mine. Je 
veillerai [I shall keep my eyes open]. 

V£mb£ry thinks we must not immediately make enemies of 
those around the Sultan who are interested in the Deutsche Bank 
loan and that we should not denounce the machinations. He wants 
me to write him a presentable letter in French for the Sultan’s eye. 

In agreeing on this we forgot that it was bound to strike the 
Sultan as strange if I wrote to my compatriot Vdmb£ry in French. 

Therefore I am sending Vdmb£ry two letters that can be shown 
around: one intimate, genuine one which he can get into the 
hands of the Sultan “by indiscretion.” This is the better way. The 
second in French and written to be shown around. 

II* 

Dear Master: 

Knowing how deep an interest you have in things Turkish, I 
think I should bring to your attention an incident that took place 
recently. A businessman from Constantinople, Mr. Crespi, who 
appears to have connections with the government of His Majesty 
the Sultan and who had been introduced to me by the Consul- 

* In French in the original. 


1002 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

General, M. de Dirsztay at Vienna, advised me that the Ottoman 
government intended to borrow 700,000 Turkish pounds. I be- 
lieved that the time had come to prove to H.M.’s government that 
in me they have a true friend who on every occasion is disposed to 
render service to the monarch who has always treated his Jewish 
subjects so well and who in his magnanimity and exalted foresight 
could one day take the Jewish refugees into his Empire. It is 
certain that they would bring to him, with limitless gratitude and 
devotion, their industrial and financial power for the great benefit 
of that splendid Turkey, so tolerant and hospitable. 

As it is always necessary to take the opportunity of demonstrating 
good will whenever it exists, I persuaded some financiers, friends 
of mine, to offer me, on behalf of the Imperial government, a loan 
on especially favorable terms. Indeed, while the Hungarian govern- 
ment was able to obtain a loan several weeks ago only at 871 ^%, 
I got an offer for the Ottoman government of what it needed at 
90%. That was no longer business; it was a favor to let H.M. see 
who his real friends are, on whom he could always call in case of 
need. 

But how great was my astonishment when I learned that this 
offer, transmitted by me to the Consul-General at Vienna and to 
the intermediary whom I could only consider a semi-official agent, 
had not been taken under consideration. 

It seems improbable to me that the money could be found on 
less onerous conditions. Through your connections at Constan- 
tinople you will be able to find out easily what the meaning of this 
is. 

Believe me, dear master. 


Faithfully yours, 

Th.H. 


I. The intimate, presentable letter: 

Dear Friend and Master: 

I must inform you of a rather strange matter today. I do know 
what a friend of the T urks you are and how you are particularly 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1003 

devoted to the Sultan. Therefore it will interest you to know that 
a very favorable offer which I had made in order to give the 
Turkish government a first proof of my friendship has gone un- 
noticed. I had been informed that the government would have 
use for about £700,000. I had to take the agent, Mr. Crespi of 
Constantinople, seriously and regard him as at least a semi-official 
agent, because he had been introduced to me by the local Turkish 
Consul-General, von Dirsztay. Now I had my financier friends 
make me a written proposal offering the Turkish government a 
loan of £800,000 against sufficient security at an assignment rate 
of 90% — thus £720,000 in cash. This is not good business for our 
financiers, because a few weeks ago the Hungarian government 
got an allotment rate of only 8714% in a loan. My friends and I 
were simply interested in giving the Sultan a proof of our great 
readiness to oblige. To my astonishment this offer was not taken 
up further. I do not believe that anyone could make an offer nearly 
as good, let alone a better one. You, dear friend, may be able to 
find out what is the meaning of the whole thing. 

With cordial regards, 

Very sincerely yours, 
Th.H. 


December 1 1 

Today I am writing to Cowen that I am ready to meet with 
Lord Rothschild at Seligmann’s on the 28th of December. 


December 1 1 

In the evening the following wire came from Crespi* 

Number 73 (Grand Vizier) will wire 919 (Berlin ambassador) 
asking him for information about your financial capacity and 
whether you are in a position to contract for the transaction. Do 
whatever is necessary to make sure that the information will be 

# In French in the original. 



1004 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

favorable to you. Wire will leave immediately after your tele- 
graphic reply. 


Crespi 


Since at the same time I had a telegram from Wolffsohn saying 
that he would be in Berlin tomorrow, I wired him to expect my 
telephone call tomorrow morning. Kann too will be in Berlin 
tomorrow. 


December 12 

I am telegraphing Crespi:* 

While knowing that it is important, 919 (Berlin ambassador) 
cannot know where the necessary is coming from. I hold to my 
offer completely. But as it is a special favor, the doctor insists par- 
ticularly on being called by 363. He will need 3 or 4 days grace to 
make arrangements with his patients. 

* * * 

Then I telephoned Wolffsohn at the Savoy Hotel, Berlin. I told 
him to take my Philosophische Erzahlungen [Philosophical Tales] 
to Ambassador Ahmed Tewfik in a nice case and ask him whether 
he knows why my proposition has not been accepted. He should 
know that I am ready, even though he may not be able to say 
where I have the money from. The Jewish Colonial Trust will also 
participate in my group. 

I also made Wolffsohn give me his word of honor that he would 
not tell Kann anything about this visit. 

* # # 


December 13 

Yesterday afternoon Wolffsohn telephoned me and said that he 
In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1005 


had been to see Ambassador Ahmed Tewfik; he had received him 
very amiably, but had not heard about anything at all yet. 

* * * 

Today I received the following wire from Crespi, dated yester- 
day:* 

Doctor, they are pressing me for a quick favorable answer to my 
telegram of the day before yesterday. Telegraph me immediately. 

Crespi 

# * * 


I am answering it: * 

Yesterday someone went to see 919, who had received nothing 
from 73 and knew nothing. But what other answer do you want 
than that all is ready on the stated conditions, which I repeat to you. 


December 14 

Yesterday there came a notification from the Pera telegraph 
office (to Kokesch as the sender), saying that the code telegram to 
Crespi had been officially intercepted. Therefore I immediately 
wired Crespi:* 

A code telegram in which I notified you that the money is still 
at your disposal under the familiar conditions did not reach you. 

* * # 

An interesting letter came from Crespi yesterday — se non e vero 
e ben trovato [if it is not true, it is well invented] — telling about 
his discussions with the Grand Vizier and Tahsin Bey as well as 
about the intrigues of the Ottoman Bank. The latter, however, 
can lend only £100-150,000, while the government — according 
to the Grand Vizier’s express declaration — is aux abois [in desper- 

# In French in the original. 




1006 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

ate straits] and needs 2-3 million pounds. Accordingly, he says 
our prospects are favorable. 

I don’t believe Levantines. 

# * * 

From YVolffsohn a report about his conversation with the ambas- 
sador at Berlin. Ahmed Tewfik told him amicably what he had 
told me two years ago: that he would like to see us immigrate any- 
where in Turkey, but not to Palestine. My Jewish State, he said, 
had struck fear into the Turkish government — quel honneur 
[what an honor] 1 — and they thought that once we were settled in 
Palestine we would wrest the country away, as the Balkan states 
did. 

To which Wolffsohn made an excellent reply: If the Jews were 
in the Balkan states, they would be Turkish to this day, for the 
Balkan states were able to break away from Turkey only with the 
aid of the Great Powers. We, however, have no other friends in 
the world but the Turks. 


December 14 

Today Vambery’s notification that my letter has gone off. 


December 14 

Telegram from Crespi:* 

Urgent necessity to have telegram sent to Grand Vizier from 
big French or German bank certifying that the seven hundred 
thousand T urkish pounds have already been lent under conditions 
I shall set. 


* * # 

This is evidently a trap, at the least a test. If I name Kann, or 
rather, have him telegraph his willingness to the Grand Vizier, the 
following eventualities are possible: 

• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1007 

a) The banking house of Lissa & Kann will be regarded as 
sufficiently “haut" [“big”], whereupon the Grand Vizier will show 
the offer to the Deutsche Bank or the Ottoman Bank in order to 
obtain a competitive offer. 

b) Lissa & Kann will not be regarded as sufficiently important, 
and the matter will be dropped, possibly at the same time using it 
as under a). 

c) In either case, Crespi, who has already betrayed N uri to me, 
can directly put himself at the disposal of Lissa & Kann and try to 
carry the matter out as a commission deal, which would be much 
easier to do without a Zionist flavor. 

d) I am not sure enough of Kann, who has stabbed me in the 
back on a previous occasion, to put him in touch with the Turkish 
government. It is of no use to Zionism for his firm to get access to 
Turkish business. 

For these reasons I shall refrain from giving the desired name, 
but after listening to my best advisers I shall do things as follows: 

To begin with, I am telegraphing to Crespi: * 

I have informed my friends of your request. Their reply will 
come tomorrow or the next day. 

* * * 

Tomorrow I shall telegraph the following:* 

My friends do not deem it appropriate to reveal themselves in 
the way you ask. First, because their conditions are not those of 
business and represent a favor. Then, because they are afraid this 
offer could only serve to elicit others. In which case we would be 
doing a favor without any thanks for it. 

But, since in your request there is also a question of previous 

security, we are willing to yield, though it is a bit humiliating for 
me. 

The way this can be done is as follows. I am authorized to show 
the gentleman with whom I talked on the telephone at Ladislas’s 

# In French in the original. 


1008 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

the offer dated November sixteenth and addressed to me by the 
financial representatives of the group. 


December 15 

Today a letter from Crespi, who claims that the Grand Vizier is 
on our side. In the Cabinet Council the advance of the Ottoman 
Bank was supposed to be discussed, but the Grand Vizier removed 
this from the agenda. He wants to make an official inquiry about 
me first— see telegrams. The Grand Vizier would like to conclude 
a loan of two to three million pounds. Crespi advises us first to 
frustrate all other financial arrangements for Turkey, then appear 
as saviors. A major opponent of ours was “Commandant” Berger, 
the director of the Dette Publique. 


December 10 

To VambZry: 

Kedves Vdmbery bdcsi [Dear Uncle Vdmbery] : 

First of all, I am pleased that you approve of my actions. Of 
course, I am not authorized to make incautious use of the offer 
made to me on November 16. The banking firm that figures as the 
underwriter is a distinguished old house, and I shall produce the 
document only when things become serious, and not for any murky 
maneuvers of 

I received the enclosed letter today. Please send it back to me 
immediately after you have used it. You yourself will know best 
how you have to write to the Sadrazam. It would, of course, be well 
to expedite the matter greatly, if only so that I may get a first op 
portunity of doing something substantial for our friends. 

I hope the journey in wintertime will not deter you. Just leave 
it up to me to provide the greatest comfort. Perhaps your son will 
give us the pleasure of coming along, too. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1009 

Scilicet [that is] — if we are called. 

With cordial regards, 

Your truly devoted 
Dori. 


The enclosure was Crespi’s letter which arrived today, dated 
12/17, in which a letter from Vdmbery to the Grand Vizier is re- 
quested. 

Vdmbery wrote me yesterday that he approved of my policy of 
showing the offer only to him; my purpose in this is to keep him, 
whom I trust, in the combination. 

Wolffsohn wires me that the firm Lissa & Kann has been in 
existence for 80-100 years and has been highly esteemed for three 
generations. I needed all this to cover myself. 


December 22 

Vdmbery wrote yesterday (end. r) that if it turned out to be a 
deal, he wanted a commission of £5000 out of the 700,000. To this 
I answered V. only briefly that he was very sensible and that I had 
never had anything else in mind but to let him have an adequate 
share. 

But since he now seems to want a letter of commission, which I 
don’t have yet before he writes to the Grand Vizier, I will make 
shift without him for the time being and am now wiring Crespi: 

Prof, a adressd la lettre au secretaire [The professor has sent the 
letter to the secretary]. 


* * # 


December 23 

I am replying today to VdmWry’s letter of December 20: 

My good Vdmbery bdcsi: 

lam swamped with work on the last few days before Christmas, 
and that is why I was only able to make a cursory acknowledgment 


1010 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

of your good letter of the 20th of the month. Now I have finished 
(By the way: read my story about old Rome in the Christmas sut> 
plement of the N. Fr. Pr., seeing that you have so much avuncular 
indulgence for me— otherwise this would be immodesty on mv 
part). 

I am now rereading your good, intelligent letter of the 20th. You 
are right, every last word. I did not and do not have the slightest 
desire to arrange this loan; I hardly need tell you this. Why should 
I trouble myself over it, anyway? 

There is nothing in it for me personally, and the cause whose 
shammes [factotum] I am can only suffer a delay because of it. But 
C. and his agents — he was recommended to me by responsible 
people from Cohn s staff — gave me to understand that it was an 
entree en matiere [beginning of things]. They said that I must fur- 
nish a first proof that I was able to put hard cash on the table and 
had not only phrases in my mouth, but — like the morning hour of 
the Turkish Empire — gold.* Also, with a relatively small amount 
only a slight delay could be involved. This I had to accept as true, 
and I induced one of my most trusted assistants to procure the de- 
sired amount at once. But at the same time, considering that it 
would be a business transaction, even though not a good one, I 
stipulated honoraria for those of our helpers who are outside our 
movement and thus have a legitimate claim to material gratitude 
as well. With this, of course, I primarily had Vdmbery bdcsi in 
mind, and that is why in my answers to C. and his associates I kept 
bringing you into the picture, because this also authorizes me vis4- 
vis my financiers to demand for you a share in the commission that 
will be paid when the transaction is concluded. For this purpose an 
amount of eight thousand pounds was readily placed at my dis- 
posal. Of this I promised C. £4000, and the remaining 4000 I in- 
tended for you — which does not mean that I wanted, God forbid, 
to put you on the same level with C. I believe that the gentlemen, 

T™ Slat ° r s !^ ote: A* 1 allusion to the proverb Morgenstunde hat Gold im Munde 

1 1 v. a m r in e h° ur has gold in its mouth”), the German version of "The 
early bird catches the worm.” ' 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1011 

who are not cads and whom I have until now known only as per- 
sons of breeding, will add another £ 1 000 at my request. 

But do I really have to tell you that I know what is the proper 
thing to do? From the very first you have behaved so cordially and 
correctly toward me that I am actually looking for an opportunity 
to give pleasure to you. 

To be sure, our great purpose must not be lost sight of in such 
side issues. I frankly confess to you that I would prefer it if our 
friends did not earn these small commissions, because then they 
would all the more assuredly and sooner earn the big ones which 
will be realized from the Charter loan. 

To this end we must work. I told you from the very beginning 
that I regard you and your connections as a historic opportunity of 
the Jewish people. Your whole fine, active, and courageous life 
reaches full stature at this peak. Vdmbery bdcsi, you are not here to 
serve as an interpreter for some Shah of Persia. Your true mission 
is to help your old people with its self-redemption. Let us not miss 
one day or one hour. Let us not say yavash [take it easy]!, like the 
Turks who are wrecked on it. And since according to C’s letter the 
Sadrazam requests a letter from you, because without your letter 
he evidently does not dare to talk to Cohn about the matter, for 
goodness’ sake write him this letter today rather than tomorrow. 

With cordial regards 


Letter to Wolffsohn: 


Your truly devoted 
Th. Herzl. 


My dear Daade: 


December 25 


I am more naive, after all, than I believed. The Halewi (loan) 
matter suddenly bogged down and I didn’t know why. Some help- 
ers want to be on the safe side and to get matone (commission) let- 
ters from us. In particular there is someone who has the greatest 



1012 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

influence upon Cohn and whom we decidedly need. He must get a 
larger amount than I thought. And since he must under no cir- 
cumstances be named and has to share in any future transactions of 
Hagen and of the Trust, Hagen must write a matone letter for the 
A.C., which assumes responsibility toward the man who wishes to 
remain anonymous. And this matone is to be paid in addition to 
the £4000, which you have already promised, for the one baldov 
(agent) who contented himself with my verbal promise. The letter 
is to read as follows: 

To the Actions Committee of the Zionist Congress, 

Attention: Dr. Th. H., Chairman. 

I hereby pledge myself to pay to the honorable A.C. of the Z.C. 
the amount of £10,000 on the day on which the loan transaction 
with the Turkish government, initiated by Dr. H., is completed. I 
further pledge myself to pay to the A.C. of the Z.C. i/ 2 % of the 
nominal sum of any additional transaction which I or my firm may 
conclude with the Turkish government directly or indirectly, 
alone or in conjunction with others, on the day of the signing of the 
contract. The A.C. of the Z.C. is under no obligation to give me an 
accounting of how these payments are used. 

Respectfully, 
Jacobus Kann, 
for the firm of L. &: K. 

This request certainly does not mean any damage to Kann’s in- 
terests, for he will be able to write off this additional matone 
against the transaction. It will then be an easy thing to obtain 
correspondingly better conditions, because we shall have every 
necessary assistance. Naturally, any obligation for him will arise 
only if the thing materializes. 

Arrange this with him quickly, so that I too can continue to 
operate unhindered. 

I surely don’t need to tell you that, in the first place, the A.C. 
uses everything that comes to it for the cause, and that, in the sec- 
ond place, I personally have nothing to do with the incoming and 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1013 

outgoing monies, but that everything is taken care of by my 
colleagues, under the control of all. 

I congratulate you on your election to the Community, but I 
am not pleased with it. This is a fresh distraction for you, and now 
you may give even less attention to the Bank. I am convinced that 
you have still made no arrangements whatever for the approaching 
deadline for payments. In my opinion, everything ought to be 
mobilized right now for the impending collection of final install- 
ments by registered postcard. In particular the thing ought to be 
organized inexpensively, and the cards should be sent from London 
at foreign-postage rates, but sent out in each country by the na- 
tional headquarters at domestic or local rates. 

When will that be done? 

Who is thinking of it? 

No one, I fear. 

For this reason a terrible displeasure at the management of the 
Bank is growing among the masses of our adherents. 

With cordial regards, 

Your 

Benjamin. 


Yesterday, first victory over the Allianz. 

In the informal conference the day before yesterday, the gentle- 
men, who had invited me through Assize-Court Councillor Kohn, 
had declined a tribunal on their misdeeds in connection with the 
Rumanian emigration, but had offered to give me and my friends 
an accounting of everything and to show us all their books. I im- 
me lately accepted this, because I was anxious to see the books 

Yesterday evening we went there. They had hoped to put us off 

A Sdected b v thtm - But I had the matter in 

turn tel! Th things to the books. Quel malheur [how unfor- 

' “ f 1 1 The J ™ u,dn ‘ sh »w the books, because the bookkeeper 

an old man, had already gone home. P 

AM right, show me the cash book. They showed it to me reluct- 





1014 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

antly. Dr. Kuranda, who was standing behind me, wanted to leaf 
through it quickly. However, I turned the pages slowly; I looked 
for and found the questionable items: a subvention of 600 guilders 
for Bloch and other uses of the donations which were contrary to 
regulations. 

Thereupon I formulated my questions as follows: 

1. By what right did the Allianz restrict the personal freedom 
of the emigrants and send them back to Rumania although they 
did not want to go? 

2. By what right were the contributions used for other things 
than what the donors were told about in the appeal? 

3. Where is the proof that the repatriates were granted adequate 
support? 

For in the meantime I had managed to get the old bookkeeper 
brought back, as well as to have the books produced. 

Messieurs Kuranda and Katzau had said that the old man prob- 
ably was still working on November in entering the Rumanian ac- 
count. No, he was a jour [up to date]. The payment to Bloch was 
already entered in the Rumanian account. At this I remarked: 
“The minutes of the Allianz ought to record thanks to the old 
bookkeeper for having entered everything so promptly.” 

Ces messieurs ont passe un mauvais quart d’heure [those gentle- 
men spent a bad quarter of an hour]. 

And now they are mine. The investigation was suspended for the 
time being, and I shall probably not continue it. I have already got 
all the material I need. 

* # # 

Vdmb£ry has written to the Grand Vizier and, “confiding in my 
honesty,” given the financiers his unconditional endorsement. 

Thereupon I am writing him: 

My good Vdmbery bacsi: 

It was no leap in the dark.* With me everything, not just this or 
that, is a matter of honor, and if I tell you something, you can swear 
to it in kittel and talles [by all that is holy]. I am now enclosing for 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1015 

vou the original letter from the bankers, because you believed me, 
Ld ask you to return this important document to me immediately 

after vou have examined it. . , - 

It is one of the oldest and finest Dutch banking houses, in busi- 
ness for about eighty years. The present head is the third genera- 
tion, very rich and highly esteemed in government circles, some- 
thing that I personally assured myself of at The Hague. 

The matter was negotiated by the president of the Jewish Co o- 
nial Trust (Colonial Bank), one of my most trusted and most de- 
voted assistants. We chose this Dutch house for this campaign be- 
cause it is the most suitable for the purpose at hand. For the Charter 
loan, to be sure, it would be out of the question. For this I have 
another group which has several millions pound sterling in readi- 
ness. I wish we had got far enough with Cohn for me to furnish you 
with proof of this as well. 

Today the Politische Korrespondenz issued the enclosed an- 
nouncement. Kindly return the clipping to me. I not only consider 
this as not a bad sign, but as a good one. The whore wants to raise 
her price, so she says that she can’t be had. Ami right?* 

I don’t need to tell you that you are to keep the name of the 
banker a strict secret. This banker, of course, is a “gentleman,” but 
the circle around Cohn could approach him directly. Then you 
would have pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for other people. 
For this my bacsi is too smart. The greatest hokhme is that you 
understand me, trust me, and go along with me. 

With cordial regards. 

Your devoted 
Dori. 


Liaciuoer 20 

To Crespi I telegraphed the following mots convenus [code 

words] regarding the dispatch of VimMry’s letter to the Grand 
v izier: 


Ob jet parti avanthier [object sent off day before yesterday] 

In English in the original. 


1016 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

December 31 

Two days ago Councillor of State von Bloch called on me. We 
spoke about war and peace. While we talked it occurred to me to 
mention Austin, Salisbury’s friend, as the possible peace negotia- 
tor. Austin had recently written me to be sure to remember his 
words: if England shows strength in the Transvaal, no one will at- 
tack her. Bloch now wanted to tell the English through the Neue 
Freie Presse that they ought to submit their dispute with the Boers 
to arbitration. I pointed out to him that this was a wild-goose chase. 
However, England might let the peace proposals of a private indi- 
vidual be discussed more readily than those of a Power. I now of- 
fered to 'write to Alfred Austin that Bloch was prepared to launch 
in the N eue Freie Presse , and seemingly under his own name, those 
proposals that were agreeable to the English government. 

Bloch agreed with pleasure to this idea which promises him le 
beau role [the starring role]. 

* # # 

Under the date of December 29th Vdmbdry writes a letter im- 
portant to me because he says in it that in the farewell audience he 
granted him the Sultan had expressed himself to him quite differ- 
ently from what the notice of the Politische Korrespondenz says: 
He doesn t give a hoot; all he wants is money and power.” 

* # # 


Letter to Vdmbery. 

December 31, 1900 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

Thank you for your good letter, and cordial wishes for the New 
Year! May this year see something great for mankind, particularly 
for our people, issue from our friendship. 

I can t get that item in the Politische Korrespondenz out of my 
mind, if only because it is getting into every newspaper in the 
world. It has been telegraphed everywhere. Although this hasn’t 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1017 

seriously worried me, I still can’t conceal from myself the effect on 
public opinion. Therefore, since my last letter to you the decision 
has matured in me to strike a major blow, based on this semi-officia 
notice. Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo. [If I cannot 
bend the powers above, I will move the lower world]. In the middle 
of January I shall start on a tour of my financier friends and induce 
them to cut the Turkish government off from all financial sources. 
That will perhaps show them that your Dori is no quantite neglige- 
able [negligible quantity]. However, as a real Jew I wish to offer 
one last opportunity for an amicable settlement. What I have in 
mind is that you immediately direct to Cohn a friendly warning in 
something like the following vein, though in your own words 
which will be more clever and more Turkish than mine: 

Dear Cohn, because of my intimate relationship with Dori I can 
today give you some information from which you can derive bene- 
fit, that is, avoid harm. For years Dori and his friends have done you 
favors, or offered them to you. When the Greek war broke out, Dori 
sent five physicians to your theatre of war at his own expense. On 
various occasions he had your praises sung in his newspapers, de- 
fended you and propagandized for you. The first thing he did at 
every Congress was to send you a telegram of homage. When he 
heard that your government urgently needed money, he imme- 
diately offered about £700,000 on terms far more favorable than 
the market ones. He never received a word of thanks. In fact, as a 
response to his latest kindness, the offer of £700,000, he gets a slap 
in the face from a semi-official news-agency. One of its releases says 
that the Turkish government is prohibiting the Israelites from en- 
tering Palestine, because the Zionist movement wants to set up the 
Kingdom of Judea. This is an absurdity. All the Zionists want to do 
is to settle the country of Palestine, under your sovereignty, with 
peaceful workmen who are too unhappy elsewhere. You and your 
whole Empire would derive enormous benefits from this. But you 
don’t want to? That’s all right, too! Nobody can or will force you to 
be a friend to the Jews. But since the Jews have nothing to hope for 
from you, you no longer have anything to expect from them either. 


1018 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Dori has just informed me that in the middle of January he will 
set out on a tour of his most powerful financier friends. He intends 
to induce them to grant you no more loans when you most urgently 
need them. Dori also writes me, among other things, that negotia- 
tions are now going on with the Canadian government (according 
to a report from Pineles, Galatz) regarding immigration. This gov- 
ernment shows itself favorably disposed to the idea. 

If you want to heed my advice, send for my friend Dori imme- 
diately, before he leaves and starts something that can make in- 
calculable trouble for you. Be pleasant to him, at least listen to 
him — then you are still at liberty to say no to him if what he pre- 
sents does not suit you. But this way you will at least keep a friend 
in him who can do you more good in the world of the press and of 
finance than you seem to be aware of. 

This is the loyal advice of your Reshid. 

But don t you believe, my good bacsi, that this is only a trick. If I 
have no invitation from Cohn by Jaunary 15, 1 shall carry out what 
I have said above. This is my decision. 

With cordial regards, 


Your devoted 
Dori. 


1901 


January 1, Vienna 


My good Vambery bacsi: 

Just one more word to supplement my yesterday’s letter. It 
should be made clear that if you intervene now, aiming at prevent- 
ing my campaign planned for the middle of January, you will be 
doing a service to the other side, i.e., Cohn. You must make him 
understand this. Tell him you have learned of something that 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1019 

makes one fear difficulties for him. And truly, you have never done 
Cohn such a service as this one. For I have now made up my mind 
and am ready*. 


Your devoted 
Dori. 


January 1 

Last night Hechler came to see me. I told him that I wished to 
propose to Lord Salisbury through Austin that Bloch formulate 
England’s peace conditions in the Neue Freie Presse. I want to per- 
form this service for England. Hechler asked me for permission to 
notify Sir Francis Plunkett, the ambassador, of this, because in this 
way the thing could be done more quickly. 

I agreed all the more readily because I had intended to have him 
propose this to me. 


January 1 

Yesterday I went to see David Gutmann and concluded the Al- 
lianz peace with him, under the condition that three Zionists be 
coopted into the Allianz and one (Prof. Kellner) into the board of 
trustees of the Hirsch Foundation. 

Gutmann also promised that they would muzzle Bloch’s Woch- 
enschrift, and told me that the firm of Gutmann Brothers had 
given Bloch fifty thousand guilders for the defense of Rohling. 


Jan. 3, Vienna 

Today sent off the letter to Austin which Hechler wrote in Eng- 

* In English in the original. 


1020 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER ZL 

lish and in which I offer Bloch’s intervention in keeping w - 
whatever peace conditions England may desire. ® ' V Uh 

* # # 

My good Grand Duke replied by telegram to my wired New 
Year’s wishes with his old cordiality. 


Jan- 3 

Yesterday I received a clipping from the anti-Semitic Berlin 
Staatsburgerzeitung, dated December 27, 1900, which reproduced 
a yellow item from the dastardly news service Information of the 
dastard Graf. The poisonous item accuses me of having boasted of 
my relationship to Kaiser Wilhelm, etc., and is obviously intended 
to have me semi-official ly disavowed by Berlin. 

I immediately telephoned Prince Eulenburg and said I would 

like to speak with him; in the evening he received me, amiably as 
always. 

First we spoke about his and my literary attempts, then I read 
him the clipping and left it with him. I informed him about the 
scoundrel Graf and told him the blackmail story. What did I want 
him to do, asked the ambassador. 

Simply to ignore this needling. The fellow wants to provoke a 
disav owal of me on the part of the German government — to take 
re\ enge or to get money. Now, I certainly have made no use of the 
letters and statements of two years ago. Therefore it would be very 
disagreeable to me to be disavowed — in the first place, because the 
things are true, and in the second, because I haven’t said anything. 
Rather, our good Mr. Hechler seems to have been too talkative. It 
is the only fault of this thoroughly honest man. He probably talked 
about letters from the Grand Duke to me announcing the assump- 
tion of the protectorate by the Kaiser. I myself haven’t told anyone 
about this protectorate which was once planned. If they now saw 
fit to disavow me, I wouldn’t know what I have done to deserve this 
cold douche. Nor would people understand it if I kept silent about 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1021 

it, because, after all, I am not dependent.” (The expression in his 
eyes told me that he had understood this gentle hint). 

I continued: “After what had gone before, the Kaiser’s reception 
and declarations in Palestine did not meet my expectations. But I 
understood at once that it couldn’t be helped, that insurmountable 
obstacles had been encountered, and I said to myself: ‘Now you’ve 
got to keep your mouth shut!’ ” 

Eulenburg rejoined: 

“I can assure you that your behavior at that time and since then 
has given us the highest opinion of your character. And I would 
discuss everything with you with the greatest confidence and with- 
out any reserve. What the difficulty was at that time we have been 
unable to find out to this day. The Sultan rejected the Kaiser s 
suggestion regarding the Zionists so brusquely that it was not possi- 
ble to pursue the matter further. We were anxious to remain on 
good terms with him. As a guest the Kaiser could not of course 
press the subject.” 

I: “I presume that it was Russian influence — then as now. Per- 
haps we didn’t contrive things shrewdly enough at that time. Ger- 
many’s open support was bound to arouse jealousy on the part of 
the others as well as the suspicion that it was a matter of occupying 
Palestine under the guise of Zionism. If we repeat the attempt, it 
ought to be managed in such a way that Germany gives its consent 
to the arrangement only reluctantly. I have now shifted the center 
of gravity to England. In the last parliamentary elections there we 
picked up some forty supporters in the House of Commons.’’ 

He said pensively: “You are quite right in not dropping your 
project. This support in the English Parliament is very important. 
Don’t get discouraged.” 

“Yes, ‘we come from other times and hope to go on to different 
ones,’ ” I quoted Grillparzer’s words. 

“For us it is a delicate task,” remarked Eulenburg. “It is inherent 
in our situation that we must strike a balance between England and 
Russia. Today we incline the balance staff toward England, but it 
will not always remain this way; the staff will have to be inclined 
toward Russia again if we want to keep our equilibrium. And par- 


1022 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

ticularly in Asia Minor, where Russia wants to expand too we mim 
have no differences.” 

I sensed that Russia s expansion was something feared and im 
mediately made use of this. I explained that Russia was behind 
Turkey’s resistance, and that Russia was evidently making tache 
d’huile [spreading out] in Asia Minor— until it would suddenly be 
at the shores of the Mediterranean. Only then would Zionism be 
lost. Only when Palestine belonged to the Russians would we have 
no more chance of obtaining it. At this point he said: “What you 
are telling me now interests me very much.” 

I also mentioned that I had recently offered the Sultan £700,000 
on favorable terms. He had not accepted the offer, evidently pre- 
vented by Russia. But I was determined to spoil his loans for him if 
he absolutely refused to give me a hearing. However, if he sent for 
me, I could make a great deal of money available to him. 

We had talked for an hour and a quarter. I got up. He said he 
hoped to see me at his dinner table soon. Et nous nous quittdmes 
dans les meilleurs termes [and we parted on the best of terms]. 

January 4, Vienna 

This has been a curious day today. But this evening I still don’t 
know, and probably won’t know for a long time, whether it has 
been a day sans consequences [of no consequence] or one to be 
marked in red later. 

The day before yesterday I had received a card from Secretary 
von Bleyleben, saying that the Prime Minister requested me to call 
on him today. I took this as just an answer to my New Year’s visiting 
card which I had left on the first, and gave the invitation no 
further thought, because my previous visits to Koerber had never 
amounted to more than dicerie [chats]. I was more concerned, as an 
ec o of the conversation with Eulenburg, with the following notice 
in yesterday’s evening edition of the N. Fr. Pr.: 

In an article in the United Services Magazine there is a peculiar 
proposal, one hardly to be taken seriously, regarding an Anglo- 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1023 

rerman exchange of territory. England is to exchange the island of 
Cyprus which has been under English administration since 
Tune agreement of 1878, for German East Africa, in order to safe- 
guard for England the strategic and commercial value of the C pe 
Cairo railroad which would otherwise in part run through foreign 
territory and be dependent on a foreign power. According to e 
article, Cyprus has always been of doubtful value to England, and 
on the other hand, thinly populated, tropical East Africa is not 
particularly valuable to Germany, while Cyprus would be an ex- 
cellent acquisition for her, as a base for her aspirations in the Near 
East as well as a station on the long road to her possessions in the 
Far East. If Germany ever got into the position of having to defend 
her rights in Asia Minor by force of arms, Cyprus would constitute 
a very valuable base of operations, and England would in no way 
have anything to fear from Germany’s taking over this island. In 
Germany, to be sure, there is a different opinion regarding the 
value of German East Africa, despite the abandonment of Zanzibar 
and Witu; therefore Berlin will probably attach only academic im- 
portance to the proposals of the above-mentioned English periodi- 
cal. 


The comment that the proposal was not to be taken seriously 
made me not entirely incredulous, for the judgments of the N. Fr. 
Pr . — after all, I know its judges — are not always the wisest. 

In the first excitement I wanted to write to Eulenburg and make 
proposals in case it was true. Germany would then have to welcome 
a Jewish settlement on Cyprus with delight. 

We would rally on Cyprus and one day go over to Eretz Israel 
and take it by force, as it was taken from us long ago. 

But I slept on this all-too-lurid idea, and the night brought me 
the decision that at this moment the wisest thing was to say noth- 
ing. Should Germany get Cyprus, I shall afterwards still have the 
opportunity to attempt the matter via Eulenburg and the Grand 
Duke. But if it stays with England, which is apparently tired of 
ownership, the chances are even better, because I shall be able to 
discuss it with Salisbury if my bons offices [good offices] in the 


1024 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER ZL 

Transvaal question give me access to him. This means t L 

Sultan’s refusal assumes even more distinct form than in the n s * 

of the PolUische Korrespondeni I would present a Cyprus 7° ^ 

to the next Congress for which I could obtain the support of dJh 
millionaires beforehand. support of the big 

On my trip to Koerber in the morning I thought over this 
Cyprus speech of mtne for the jth Congress. I would declare thu 

Pal™, 5 3 C0m k b '" at,0n ot the currently bogged-down hopes for 
Palestine with the indispensable campaign to aid our poorest 

Poor Trtetsch s tdea, then, whom I also sent for mentally to mu 
htm to work on the preparations. I would further declare to the 
Fifth Congress that Cyprus was only a step on the way to Palestine 

her , rurkey WOU d then take Us more seriousl y- etc. I could even 
near the opposition and agreement of the Congress 

rd hUS \ arTiVed . a ' ‘ he Wi PP lin «ecst ras se [and] simultaneously 

of m n P ‘ agai i n K St AuStnan domestic politics. * Koerber tore me out 
of my Oriental heaven with an amiable jolt. 

eVe " tUaIity Which 1 have lon g foreseen has come about: he 

. . . ° °* h , aS t0 govern m opposition to the N. Fr. Pr. This is why 

he had called me, as I immediately found out. 

*“° aP Wkh Auer ’’’ he told me after first words of 
greeting. Did you find something, maybe?” 

“I didn’t look. Your Excellency/’ 

Anything to be done with the Neue Press? Is it to be had?” 
money ’ * ma “ erS handled COrTectly - U is a question of 

Danpr C T°7 ^ S \7 ere ’ Sa * d P lainl y- Money for a new, quality 
P Sh v T th , e Neue Freie Presse - There is a group.” 

“Mv wn a C< ^ And W ^ en he hesitated with his answer, I said: 
My word of honor that it will remain between us.” 

1 ,len he answered: “Schollerl” 

with fnnnfr^ me n ° W me whether I wished to speak 
willing R t p^ l v, erS ^if r ^ wh ° W3s ne goti a ti n g the matter. I said I was 
u w en e mentioned that the “group” wanted to have 

* Tran It' ° * 

Herzl’s probable intendoif^ 3 ^ 01 ^ * fragmentary sentence; completed according to 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1025 

the Secretary of the Reichenberg Chamber of Commerce-Karus 
or Karplus, I didn’t catch the name clearly— as the publisher, I e 
pressed a reservation, saying that a major journalist would hardly 
consent to serve under such a chief. For the rest, I first wanted to 
hear the details from Auersperg and then express myself at greater 

length. _ • • * u 

Then we spoke about the internal situation in Austria, rie 

claimed to be tired of being in office, although he certainly didn’t 
give me that impression. He said in a somewhat nervous tone of 
voice: “I’m just curious about my successor. I can’t wait to see if 
he’ll do a better job, or what he’ll do. Who are they talking 

about?” 

“Lichtenstein or Schonbom,” I said. 

“OrGautsch!” 

“But he would only have a ministry of officials all over again. 
Then you might as well stay, Your Excellency.” 

He spoke about the elections. “Nobody knows nothing certain.” 
He had the least good to say about the German-Progressives. They 
are the most troublesome. I believe he thinks so because they are 
the weakest. He praised the Christian-Socialists, “because at least 
they are willing to work.” With the Czechs, too, one could manage 
somehow. These hints showed me in what direction he wants to 
steer. Incidentally, he denied that he had made concessions to the 
Czechs prior to the Prague Diet, as the German-Nationalists in- 
dignantly assert. 

The reason that the work of the Prague Diet had run smoothly, 
he said, was that he had previously sent for Governor Coudenhove 
and given him instructions to dissolve it in case there were dis- 
turbances. 

He also had the Oberstlandmarschall [provincial chief marshal] 
notified of this, and thereupon the Czechs were well-behaved and 
subdued. The “concession” was the threat of dissolution in the 
event that the marriage of Archduke Franz Ferdinand or the Bo- 
hemian states’ rights were brought up in any way. 

“What do you think of that, Dr. Herzl?” 

“I think that you have done some governing.” 



1026 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

I also admitted to him that contrary to my previous opinion h 
had been right in not “running” the elections. 

“That can’t be done the way it is elsewhere,” he said. “In Hun- 
gary the government can make a unified party for itself. Here we 
have to go along with a different party in each crownland. So it’s 
better not to interfere in the first place, otherwise you have them 
all against you. Yet I’ve done a thing or two on the quiet, for in- 
stance in Krain.” 

He still has the Emperor’s confidence, as he told me in reply to 

my question; but his answer no longer sounded as positive as it had 
last summer. 

Then he dismissed me. When I was at the door, he saw me out 
and said to the doorman: “Call Count Auersperg.” 

So, vederemo [we shall see] I 


January 7, Vienna 

This morning I am to go to see Ministerialrat Count Auersperg. 
What will come of it? This question has been agitating me mightily 
for the past two days. It can just as easily lead to nothing, to a diceria 
[chat], as to a great deal, to everything. 

I am now reciting to myself my old saying: Rien n’ arrive, ni 
comme on le craint, ni comme on Vespere [Nothing happens either 
as one fears or as one hopes] . 

* # # 

The same must apply to Constantinople as well. Vdmbdry writes 
me under the date of January 4 that he had repeated my last letter 

to the Sultan in detail. However, Vdmbdry does not expect much 
from it. 

* * * 

Cowen reports from London that the meeting with the Roths- 

c 1 s is to be managed by Seligmann as soon as I get there. In 

out two weeks I shall probably go to London where Wolffsohn is 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1027 

calling me on account of the Bank. Regarding the Bank, regarding 
the Rothschilds, too: rien n’ arrive. . . . 


January 8 

Yesterday morning I went to see Ministerialrat Count Auers- 
perg. A tall, slim gentleman of some forty years with an intelligent, 
sometimes too intelligent, look in his eyes. A future minister, cela 
se devine [this much may be guessed]. At first he tried to act re- 
served. I disarmed him by making the battement [gambit] of 
frankness. I spoke without any reservation, whereupon he too 
spoke freely. A “group of industrialists” wanted to give the money 
for a new paper, or for the acquisition of “an old one.” This group 
had turned to Koerber through him, Auersperg. Koerber had said 
that he knew someone — myself — and so the ball had started rolling. 
“The fundamental reason for this plan of the industrialists is the 
impending commercial treaties. People don’t read about them in 
the papers. That is why they want to create or acquire an organ for 
informing the public.” 

I believe, however, that the deepest reason is the creation or ac- 
quisition of a baronetcy for Herr von Scholler. But that is none of 
my business. Scholler’s money is as clean as money can be, and it is 
all right for me to take it in order to start a decent newspaper, es- 
pecially since Auersperg kept emphasizing that only an independ- 
ent journal was to be created. 

We agreed that I was to get details about a rendezvous with 
Scholler in the course of the same day. I promised to be at home 
from five o’clock on. 

Then an incident intervened which made me rather nervous 
yesterday afternoon. At noon there was a call from Prince Eulen- 
burg to the office of the Welt saying that he wanted to speak with 
me at six o’clock. I couldn’t say no because, after all, the meeting 
between Auersperg and Scholler had not been definitely set for the 
evening. 


1028 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

Accordingly I made rather complicated arrangements in cat, 
something came from Auersperg during my absence from Z 
house, and at six o’clock I drove to Eulenburg. 

He gave me some surprising information. He had made inouir 
if* about the Provenance of that scoundrel Graf and had learnt 
t at this item was traceable “to a difference of opinion between Dr 
Herzl and the secretary Dr. Landau.” 

I set him straight on the character of the fine S. R. Landau anH 
reassured him that nothing need be feared from “exposures” on 

the part of this fellow, simply because I had never confided any 
thing to him. y 

he mi S ht he could only have gleaned from our 
good Hechler s incautious chatter. Eulenburg said he planned to 
send for Hechler and appeal to his conscience to keep silent. 

He further said: As I learned, the matter is not to stop with this 
first article, but there are other articles by Landau to come.” 

I shrugged my shoulders, because, after all, I am not afraid of this 
pair of rascals, Graf-Landau. 

Incidentally, Eulenburg told me he had reported to the Imperial 

a anC f i° r ° n ° Ut ^ rSt conversat i° n about this matter in the spirit 
desired by me. r 

Then we discussed literature again. He gave me a new book by 
Frau von Gerstenbergk about Ottilie von Goethe. 

When I got home, there still was nothing from Auersperg; not 
until late m the evening did a pneumatic-tube letter come from 
him, requesting me to visit him at ten o’clock today. 

* * # 

This night, too, brought me counsel. 

ccurred to me 1) that the Landau-Graf coup was probably 
mounted against me at all, but against the German govem- 
• or t e matter is disagreeable to it, not to me. Those charac- 
want to extort something from the German government, 
ore must call on Eulenburg this very day and warn him, 
since e apparently has his information directly from Graf. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1029 

2) that Auersperg’s card might mean snow. For yesterday he said 
he would see me at Scholler’s. Today he calls me to his office. 

Does this mean letting me down easy? 

In an hour I’ll know. 


January 8, in the evening. 

I have been to see Auersperg. He was in a Privy Councillor’s gala 
uniform with very many decorations, and considerably more for- 
mal than yesterday. On account of the uniform, the decorations? 
Or because in the meantime something unknown to me has hap- 
pened? Did hoar-frost fall during the night?* 

He said the “group” wanted to get more detailed business infor- 
mation. The 700,000 guilders for the new paper didn’t frighten 
them, they had been prepared for that. But the indefinite amount 
for the N. Fr. Pr. Why didn’t I say how much it cost. I said: I don’t 
know. At the moment the N. Fr. Pr. is not for sale. A disposition to 
sell would first have to be fostered by establishing a rival paper. The 
gentlemen further wished to have the assurance of a ten-year aver- 
age profit as the basis for a 7-8% capitalization. I said I could not 
hold out even the remotest prospect of this either, because I was 
not acquainted with the intentions of the owners. However, I 
thought that with a down-payment of seven hundred I could carry 
out the transfer of the shares with full payment within two years. I 
also said that I believed only in the possibility of a five-year average 
as a basis for sale. 

Auersperg took these statements down and promised to speak 
with the group this very day. Then I might possibly be asked to 
attend a conference. 

At parting the Count was frostier than he had been yesterday. He 
has a curious way of smiling. His smile is very friendly, and the 
friendliness suddenly vanishes. Then he smiles again, and his face 
stiffens without recognizable cause. 

• Translator’s Note: Probably an allusion to Heine’s line: "Es fiel ein Reif in der 
Friihlingsnacht 


1030 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

The impression today was rather disagreeable * Are they lettin 
me down easy? ^ 

« * * 

Afterwards I drove to Eulenburg’s, who received me immedi- 
ately although I had come mea sponte [of my own accord], which 
filled the valetaille [underlings] in the magnificent vestibule with 
reverent awe. 

I gave him my impression of the Landau-Graf affair. 

“ La nuit m’a porte conseil [the night has brought me counsel]. 
Those boys aren’t gunning for me, but for you, the German gov- 
ernment. After all, these disclosures about past relationships be- 
tween His Majesty and myself could not be disagreeable to me. On 
the other hand, it could turn out to be bothersome to the German 
government if the world found out that originally it had the inten- 
tion of proceeding in Palestine and then had to give it up on ac- 
count of unforeseen obstacles. Therefore I believe that it is the 
tender beginnings of a chantage [blackmail] aimed at you. What 
was written there is evidently based on schemes derived from Hech- 
ler s chatter. Those fellows want to exploit a presumed embarrass- 
ment of the German government, because they don’t know that 
the Kaiser can implicitly rely on my silence.” 

At my words there was a flash of summer lightning in Eulen- 
burg’s diplomat’s face. 

When I remarked that as far as I was concerned the extortionary 
intention would be clear if he had the news that further “expo- 
sures” were to come from Graf or his circle— he nodded and 

thereby admitted that he had actually spoken with this shady char- 
acter. 

Then he said: Yes, I too had the feeling that something could 
e fixed there with money. When the person involved made me the 
sclosure, I naturally didn’t let him see any reaction. For it would 
be sad if I didn’t have myself under control to that extent. I am 
used to being faced suddenly with the strangest things. As far as the 
matter itself is concerned, I have informed the Imperial Chancel* 

# In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1031 

lor of the exact contents of my conversation with you, and nothing 
will be done that could lead to a discussion or dissemination of the 
announcement issued by these two people. For the time being, 
think, we shall leave it at that. But should they nevertheless con- 
tinue things as they have announced, then I shall notify you and do 
nothing without having discussed it with you first.” 

I replied: “In that case it might be advisable for you to tell the 
blackmailer that I am afraid of him. He should send me the galley 
proofs of the next publication before it appears. Then I would call 
those two characters to my place, let them commit the crime of ex- 
tortion, as the Chief of Police advised some time ago, and then have 
them arrested.” 

Then I mentioned in passing that Landau had also polemicized 
against me in Harden’s Z ukunft, and when I added that I had al- 
ways wondered how such a good judge of human nature as Bis- 
marck could have become so deeply involved with Harden, Eulen- 
burgsaid: 

“Hatred drove him to it. That was his most striking characteris- 
tic. His greatest passion was hate. A lot could be said about this, 
and I in particular, who spent my entire youth in the circle around 
Bismarck, could make the most remarkable disclosures about it. 
But I shall be careful not to. The German people won’t have this 
idealized figure touched. And anyone who would interfere there 
would have everyone against him. 

“It is true that he did a lot for us, but how many lives he de- 
stroyed as well I If he hated someone, he shrank from nothing. Then 
he struck at his private life and ruined everything about the man. 
The Princess also contributed a great deal to this. She was of an 
inexhaustible eloquence, and if anyone had incurred her hatred, 
she kept urging the Prince on until he too was quite possessed by it. 
He always gave free rein to his hatred, and only when the State, 

and thus Bismarck’s own existence, was involved, did he bridle this 
passion of his. 

It also affected his decisions whether on a given day he had 
eaten two pates de foie gras or only one, whether he had drunk a 
whole bottle of cognac or only half a bottle. Both of them were kind 


1032 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

to me, and only when, after Bismarck’s dismissal, I went over to the 
Kaiser were they against me too. It was this way: anyone who did 
not follow them into moral exile, and physical exile as well, was 
regarded as an enemy by them. As for me, I stood by the Kaiser.” 
(Parbleu [Aha]! I secretly thought to myself.) 

“And after he had been dismissed, he made use of anyone at all 
as long as he could indulge his hatred for the Kaiser. It hasn’t even 
become public knowledge who-all was allowed to come to see him. 
As regards his behavior toward the Kaiser, history will presumably 
pronounce the right judgment.” 

While saying this Eulenburg gave me a deep look with his cold 
and yet visionary eyes, as though he were giving me a commission 
for history, since I was a man of letters. The Kaiser, he said, had al- 
ways acted chivalrously toward the dismissed Bismarck. 

Bismarck, however, had missed no opportunity to embarrass 
the Kaiser who, to be sure, was a very impulsive person and offered 
such opportunities. 

* # * 

It is now seven o’clock and I still have no news from Auersperg. 

I already saw myself at the head of a big paper on which I could 
work for the greatest aims. Was I like the market woman with the 
eggs who makes bigger and bigger plans for the future and, while 
dreaming, slips and breaks all her eggs? 

* * * 

Did I make mistakes in my negotiations with Auersperg? Did I 
dampen him, annoy him, make him suspicious? Presumably I shall 
not recognize my faulty move in this chess game until later. 

Or do they want to conduct the matter slowly, in order not to let 
on that they are in a hurry? Will they have the data supplied by me 

translated into action by someone else, a man more acceptable to 
the group? 

Waiting is a bad thing for the nerves. 

* * * 

A quarter past eight, the same day. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1033 

These three hours since my return home during which I have 
been waiting for a message from Auersperg have once again dug at 
my nerves. I am racking my brains where the mistake was. Was it 
the battement [gambit] of frankness? Did I say too much, speak too 
incautiously? On a toujours les qualites de ses defauts [one always 
has the virtues of one’s defects]; this time it seems to have been the 
reverse. To an Austrian Privy Councillor and aristocrat one 
mustn’t open any wider perspectives; that disconcerts him and 
makes him suspicious. 

I now have the feeling that I didn’t make the right impression on 
Auersperg. My feeling is similar to the one I had with Billow long 
ago, and I wasn’t mistaken that time either. 

Perhaps my mistake was in telling him about the compensations 
I rejected when Badeni made me an offer. Maybe he thinks that 
this time I would accept the compensations. Perhaps he is fright- 
ened at the great advantage the proposition offers me. Maybe they 
have another chief in petto [in prospect] and want to use the Jew 
all right, but don’t want to give him a job. 

On the other hand, the fact that the “group” wishes to stipulate 
a two-year period for payment did appear to be on the level. 

But not on the level that they should let me have 700,000 guild- 
ers when I said that I could manage with half a million. 

* # * 

I am making all sorts of conjectures. 

Perhaps there is a wire-tap on the German Embassy, and it was 
learned that I was called to it yesterday and from there made two 
telephone calls to the Cottage section. Maybe they are taking me 
for a German agent and harboring suspicion because of that. 

# * * 

At any rate, it is striking that now, at half-past eight, no word 
has come from Auersperg as yet. 

* # # 

Among the eggs which may be broken by now there also was one 
for my poor relatives. Yesterday I had told my parents my intention 


1034 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

of giving a monthly pension to each of my penniless relatives if m 
situation improved. ' 

Among them there also was an egg for Oskar Marmorek whose 
life is being embittered by his wealthy father-in-law because he 

made a bad speculation with the unrentable house on the Prater- 
strasse. 

This is the house I wanted to rent from him for the newspaper 
offices, although two days ago he acted badly and resigned his seat 
on the A.C., because I didn’t push him onto the board of trustees of 
the Hirsch Foundation, into the company of the rich Jews who are 
supposed to impress his father-in-law and presumably get him con- 
struction jobs. 

All the things that play a part and reverberate! 

I wanted to forgive Oskar for this flaw in his character and 

thought of Bacon’s saying that riches is to virtue what the baggage 
is to an army. 

Helas, tout est rompu, gendre [Alas, everything is ruined, son-in- 
law].* 

* * * 

Half-past ten. 

Nothing has come. 

Since Auersperg promised to send a messenger, but didn’t even 
send a card by pneumatic tube making an appointment for tomor- 
row, my blackest fears are justified. Goodbye, freedom! Goodbye, 
independence! 

I must continue to remain a slave of the Neue Freie Presse. 
However, in the course of the evening I have calmed down. 
Crespi s letter which arrived yesterday and which I had only 
glanced at in the tension of the last 24 hours contributed to this. He 
sends me the draft of a proposal for a loan which I am to forward to 
the Grand Vizier, which is to be followed immediately by my sum- 
mons to Constantinople, plus distinction honorifique [public 

onor] and reception by the Sultan. So I have something else to 
think over and sleep on. 

d'ltalie nS ' at ° r * A quotation from E. Labiche’s play Un chapeau de paille 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1035 

This is the good thing about having several irons in the fire of 
one’s imagination. If one of them doesn’t work out, one can at least 
hope that another will. 

However, as I write this I still have the hope deep down that my 
pessimism is premature and that something will come of the paper 
after all. 

This, of course, would mean infinitely much: freedom! I now 
feel like a Count of Monte Cristo who breaks out of prison, already 
feels the air of freedom blow against him from the hole in the 
wall— and then hits a rock that he cannot remove. 


January 9 

Until now, 10 o’clock in the morning, no news of any sort from 
Auersperg. I consider the incident as closed, no matter what may 
still happen. Shall therefore participate in the future discussions, 
which will probably only smooth over the defection, with that re- 
serve which, imprudently enough, I failed to display from the very 
beginning. 

Wenn man alt wird wie eine Kuh, 

Lernt man immer etwas zu. 

[If you live to be as old as a cow. 

You keep learning something new.] 


January 9 

Answer to Crespi’s letter of December 28, his wire of January 2, 
and his letter of J anuary 4 : * 


January 10, 1901 

Dear Sir: 

Please excuse my delay in answering your estimable letter of 
January 4. 1 had to consult with my friends first. 

• In French in the original. 


1036 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

We would like to believe that this time the matter is becoming 
more serious, but we cannot completely forget how we have been 
treated up to now. As you very well know, about the middle of the 
month of November we placed ourselves — at your request— at the 
disposal of the Imperial Government. I got my financier friends to 
formulate the offer of a loan, and that offer, dated November 16 
had the costly effect of immobilizing the capital for more than a 
month. 

You cannot believe that serious people let such sums lie inactive 
indefinitely. Thus the impression made upon them has been a 
rather disagreeable one, and I have been reproached for my gulli- 
bility. What is more, the proposition is not so tempting in itself; 
and if it were not linked with interest in other matters, the affair 
would have been abandoned without the least regret with the 
small loss of a month of waiting. 

Even so, when you did me the honor of coming to Vienna to see 
me, I persuaded my friends to prolong their offer on my account. 
When you telegraphed me that it was necessary to prove the exist- 
ence of that offer, I was authorized to show it to a man honored by 
the confidence of H.M. the Sultan. I showed it to the Prof., who 
was able to certify the document. But neither my friends nor I want 
to enter into competition with other groups. 

Neither do we wish to let our proposal serve to provoke a compe- 
tition. 

It would be said: Here is what the Zionists are offering. Do bet- 
ter than they! No, we will not lend ourselves to any such arrange- 
ment. 

On the contrary, we would have two quite weighty reasons for 
abandoning the matter completely. 

1) The conditions which you set now are different from those 
which served to open the subject. Your first proposal was six and a 
half percent. Later you reduced it and offered only six. Always 
keeping the greater end in view, I managed to get my friends to 
accept this rate. Today it is a matter of only 514%. As for the in- 
termediaries, at M. Dirsztay’s house I had promised you the sum of 
one hundred thousand francs if the matter should be concluded 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1037 

through your efforts. Today there appears a new demand, for 5% 
of the loan. I can understand this only by supposing that the condi- 
tions will be bettered in a way still to be worked out in secret, for 
you cannot believe that in a matter of this kind one will give 95% 
of the capital. This, then, would be something to discuss, and it 
does not seem to me impossible to satisfy everyone if my friends 
and I are satisfied. 

2) But here comes the real difficulty. What was my astonishment, 
not to say my disappointment, when I read in the Politische Kor- 
respondenz of December 27, 1900 a semi-official notice of the ut- 
most violence against the movement I represent. It was like a brick 
falling on my head. What? Is this the reply to all the friendliness 
which I have evidenced, to all the services rendered, or at least 
offered, to these gentlemen of Constantinople over the last four 
years? 

What is the source of this dispatch date-lined Constantinople? 
What is certain is that the news has been reprinted by a great num- 
ber of papers. The correspondent of the Daily Mail had confirma- 
tion of it at the Turkish Embassy in Vienna. Was it H. E. Mahmud 
Nedim Bey? It doesn’t matter to me what the source is, since it 
hasn’t been denied. And I am tired of being taken in. So much the 
worse for Turkey if it doesn’t want us. But then why would we be 
stupid enough to do favors? 

But to come to offer services after this incident, before repara- 
tion of some sort or other had been made, would be not only stupid- 
ity, but also a stooping to which I would never consent even if our 
financiers were willing. 

} sum U P> an d I return to our starting point. More than ever 
u is indispensable that I be invited by H.M. to come to see him. 

Only that gracious act can atone for the errors committed by 
your officials. Then I will come and place my complete loyalty at 
the foot of the throne. 




• , / V/L UU1 ilildll- 

Constantino 11 ! ^ ° f ^ ^ during my Stay at 


1038 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

This proposal ought to be enough. My word is as good as a finan- 
cier’s. 

I am charged with interests and responsibilities that are impor- 
tant in a different way. Nevertheless I believed that my position 
was sufficiently well known. But while repeating that I am still 
available one last time, I assure you that if I am not summoned by 
January 20, I will consider the whole matter irrevocably closed. 

You may show this letter to H.H. the Grand Vizier, to whom I 
beg you kindly to convey my respects. 

With kindest regards, 


Yours, 

Th.H. 


January 10, 10:30 in the morning 

T o this hour no news of any sort from Auersperg. 

After twice twenty-four hours of silence such a matter must be 
regarded as dead. 

Now the unwelcome part of my saying applies: rien n’ arrive — 
comme on Vespere [nothing happens — as one hopes]. 

How far advanced in my dreams I already was, how high the 
battlements of my castle in the air rose. It has collapsed. 

* # # 

I still don t know where the mistake was. Did I display too much 
intelligence and thus arouse mistrust? In conversation with Koer- 
ber or with Auersperg? Did I betray too much self-will which 
looked bothersome? Quien sabe [Who knows]. 

* # # 

But I must pull myself together for new decisions. If I don’t hear 
anything by Saturday, I shall request Koerber for an audience and 
make another attempt to win him over again. 

I shall tell him that I will always remain a Koerber man, even 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1039 

after he is overthrown. It was my intention anyway to write him a 
letter on the day of his overthrow— if only for the beau geste [fine 
gesture] — pledging him my continuing devotion. 


January 10 

A case of the plague in Constantinople — which would not deter 
me from going there tomorrow if the Sultan summoned me. 

I am sending word to O. Marmorek to wire his brother Alex: 

You ought to telegraph the Sultan, offering your services in 
fighting the plague threat with serums. 

Twelve o’clock. 

Since I made the decision to see Koerber I have been calmer. 


January 10 

Letter to Wolffsohn: 

My dear Daade: 

This is an important letter. I beg you to get on the next train 
with it and go to Hagen. 

If he accepts the conditions he will find in the enclosed copies, I 
hope that Halewi (the loan) will materialize. 

But this still leaves the question of the assurance to the A.C. 
which I requested in my letter to you dated 12/25. The answer 
you gave me was unsatisfactory. At first I didn’t care about it, be- 
cause there was a pause in the negotiations, such as unfortunately 
is part of these people’s system. It is their misfortune — and good 
fortune. They are ruined by it — but ruined slowly. 

However, I can be in an awful scrape if the thing materializes 
and I don’t have a letter from Hagen in my hands. You see, I have 
already made promises of commissions, and I would be held to 
them. It would be sheer madness on my part if I did not cover 
myself. 



1040 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

The letter to the A.C. must be sent to us verbatim and without 
delay, othenvise I shall immediately cut the threads and tell all 
those concerned that they won’t get anything. 

After all, the letter contains no sort of obligation for K if noth 
ing comes of the matter. His refusal would therefore really give me 
pause. I imagine, however, that in his ignorance of the character 
of the place he erroneously assumed that the entire negotiations 
weren’t to be taken seriously and that therefore he didn’t even 
want to write a letter. But come to think of it, the tone in which he 
speaks of the “great unknown’’ is actually insulting. Does he per- 
haps believe that this unknown is on the A.C.? He doesn’t seem to 
know whom he is dealing with. After all, the receipts and expendi- 
tures of the A.C. as well as all the papers are subject to control. 
Well, I won’t get excited. Your friend has simply been guilty of 
folly once again. 

Telegraph me at once when you are at Hagen’s whether he ac- 
cepts the formulated conditions and will write Kokesch the A -C. 
letter. 


Cordially yours, 
Benjamin. 

January 10, at night 

At 6:45, when I was writing the letter to Wolffsohn, a letter from 

uersperg came at last. He asks me to come to his office at 10:30 
tomorrow morning, so that we may go to the conference together. 

y hopes were raised the way parched flowers are raised by a sud- 
den rain. 

Again the fantasies moved past while I walked up and down in 
my children s room. The children were being bathed and put to 
bed, as they are every evening. 

They made their daily jokes, draped bedclothes around them- 
se ves after they had been undressed, lustily sang their way into the 
at room, danced into their beds, and said their evening prayers; 
today I made them say a Hebrew prayer in addition to the German 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1041 

one. And they had no idea that today their fate may be moving 
past over their young heads. If tomorrow’s conference leads to 
something serious, there will again be a great change in my life 
and therefore also in the lives of my children. 

Incidentally, the ups and downs of the last few days have made 
me serious, humble, and taciturn. I plan to control myself greatly 
tomorrow and, if possible, to make no mistake. 

But there is something intoxicating about the idea of becoming 
free, free from Benedikt’s orders and wishes. 

Mais rien ri arrive ni comme on le craint, ni comme on I’espere 
[But nothing happens either as one fears or as one hopes]. 


January 12 

Yesterday was the day of the duel. 

I showed up at Auersperg’s office a few minutes before the ap- 
pointed time. He told me that the “industrialist gentlemen’’ first 
of all wanted more detailed information. Scholler didn’t want to 
do it alone; Krupp had to be brought in, too. Later I was able to 
see that the latter was the master mind of the combination. 

“You will have to pass a commercial examination in front of the 
gentlemen,” joked Auersperg, who had unbuttoned somewhat. 

“Oooo, then I’ll make out badly,” I said; “because I’m not a com- 
mercial man. Of course, I can give information on the technical 
details.” 

The day before I had paid a visit to the composing room of the 
N. Fr.Pr. and therefore was au courant [up to date] . 

Then Auersperg was called to a Section Head, and for a quarter 
of an hour I enjoyed the still life of an Austrian ministry office. The 
gold-bricking that goes on in such an office is probably downright 
grandiose. Through the thin wall I heard the conversation of the 
scribbling clerks. Suddenly a grumbler was heard outside, invisible 
to me. In the tone of a foppish man-about-town he beefed about 
the impending transfer of his office to a new building, one pre- 
sumably still wet: “Why do we have to dooo it, huh? Catch 


1042 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

rheumatism there? Get sick for life? Why do we have to dooo 't 
huh?” ’ 

Later he opened the door to the room where I was sitting and we 
recognized each other. It was young von Fries whom I had once 
met at Suttner’s house. 

Then Auersperg came back and we left. It is part of the situation 
that I was embarrassed about being seen in the street with this 
great lord. 

We went to the new, magnificent Scholler house on the Wild- 
bretmarkt and went up in the elevator. Scholler and Krupp were 
already waiting in the conference room. The former, tall, blond, 
young — 29 years old, as it turned out afterwards. The latter in his 
forties, fresh, jolly, bold, good type of a business man. Kr. started 
the discussion, described what the “group” wanted — a most decent 
program which I can accept with a good conscience. 

With the aid of figures I then sketched a picture of the new 
paper, which seemed to please them. 

“What is its name to be?” asked Kr. 

I said slowly: 

I would call the new journal — Die Neue Zeituns IThe New 
Journal].” 

At this they all grinned, and after all the facts and figures and 
the good preparation with which I had preceded them they were 
evidently won over. Reste la question delicate [There remains the 
delicate question]. 

Raising the needed little million — 7—800,000 guilders to start 
seemed to worry Kr. less than it did Sch., who raised all sorts 
of objections, maybe in order to appear quite conservative, but 
perhaps also because he did not really appreciate the scope of the 
whole thing. For the other possibility — acquisition of the N. Fr. 
Pt. another allotment, 4 to 5 millions, was made. But will it be 
available? I would first have to resign, so as to be able to negotiate. 
Thus I would have to be covered in advance against all eventuali- 
ties. Accordingly I requested a contract before I did anything. The 
gentlemen asked me to draft it for them. 

The conference had lasted for 2I/2 hours. I am convinced that 1 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1043 

made no mistake this time. If the project does not materialize, it 
will have been through no fault of mine. 

In the afternoon I drafted the letter of contract at the office of the 
N. Fr. Pr. where I have suffered so much for five years and which I 
may soon leave forever — alas! perhaps not. 

(Enclosed in an envelope of the N. Fr. Pr.) 

# # * 

In his introductory remarks Krupp had said: 

“We want neither an anti-Semitic paper nor (with emphasis) a 
Jewish paper. That we are not Clericals is shown by the fact (with a 
laughing glance at the Count) that we are Protestants.” 

And this is the wondrous, amusing situation that in this declin- 
ing Austria the Protestant industrial forces, through the interven- 
tion of a Catholic Count in the government, negotiate with a Jew 
for the purpose of creating an organ of public opinion. And what 
is even more wondrous is that only this Jewish Jew is in a position 
to create a clean, decent organ, and that he wants to do it, too. 

* * * 

Krupp further said quite openly, as truly intelligent people do 
when talking with their intellectual equals: 

“We industrialists need a paper to inform the public. We are 
now without any journalistic representation. For instance, a Dan- 
ube-Oder canal is a necessity. But the Neue Freie Presse doesn’t 
want this to be talked about. It has probably received money for it 
from Rothschild and the Nordbahn [Northern Railroad].” 

And at this point the contrast was drawn with wonderful clarity 
between the big bankers, who have been hostile toward me for 
years because of my Zionism, and this group of industrialists, who 
have sought me out. 

But I certainly committed no act of cowardice, didn’t flatter 
them with regard to Social Democracy, but said that I would never 
use a rude capitalistic tone toward the workers. Rather, I would 
try to conduct the discussion of social questions in a conciliatory 


1044 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

tone, with superior amiability, in order to enlighten the workers 
about their true interests, which, after all, are closely related to the 
prosperity of industry. 


January 13 

Yesterday morning I sent the letters to Auersperg and then again 
waited a bit nervously to be summoned. 

It got to be afternoon, nothing came. Finally, toward evening, a 
letter from Auersperg. I was requested to appear tomorrow, Mon- 
day, at half-past eleven at the same place (Scholler’s). Tomorrow, 
then, is the day of destiny. 


* * * 

In the evening a letter came from Alfred Austin with the answer 
to my proposal to have Councillor-of-State Bloch mediate between 
England and the Transvaal. 

England will hear nothing of mediation. She wants surrender, 
pur et simple [pure and simple]. 

* # * 

Afterwards I gave a rather absent-minded lecture in the Con- 
gress Office about women and Zionism. 


January 14 

I forgot to enter an important incident in Friday’s conference 
with Krupp and Scholler. 

When we were discussing the income of the newspaper, particu- 
larly the notorious “lump sums,” Krupp said with a meaningful 
and watchful look: “With us, of course, there can be no question 
of such income.” 

Whereupon I countered, blow for blow: 

Otherwise I wouldn’t have any part in it.” 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1045 

This gave all three of them a visible jolt, and I believe they knew 
only from that point on whom they were dealing with. 


January 14, 10 o’clock in the morning 

And today is probably the day of destiny. 

In another two hours I shall know where I am at. Whether my 
life will really take a new turn, or whether I have to continue to be 
stuck in my slavery under Benedikt. 

Will they accept my conditions — or reject them? There is an- 
other possibility, which Scholler hinted at: postponement. This I 
would have to take as a courteous backing out. Then they will per- 
haps have my program carried out by someone else. 

However it may be, I am resolved to preserve an iron calm — 
amiable in case of rejection and composed in case of an agreement. 
After all, I am not le premier venu [just anybody] and must not 
show myself disappointed or exultant, like some clerk to whom the 
great prize of a managership beckons, or who unexpectedy becomes 
boss. 

What I would deserve is a bigger position than I now have. If I 
don’t achieve it, I shall simply remain au dessus de mon sort [above 
my lot], which is something to be proud of, too. 


January 14, 2:30 in the afternoon 

After my return. 

Letter to Koerber: 

Your Excellency: 

May I request Your Excellency, at the suggestion of Count 
Auersperg, to be kind enough to receive me today on a very press- 
ing matter. I can come to Herrengasse. However, the way matters 
stand at the moment and in the interest of the success of the next 
steps, it would be better if I were not seen there today. Therefore, 
if at all possible, I should like to request that I be told to come to 
Rathausstrasse. I am ready to come at any time. 


1046 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

The bearer of this note is waiting for a reply. 

With deep respect, 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant 
Th.H. 

January 1 4, 5 o’clock in the afternoon 

At half-past eleven I was on the Wildbretmarkt. Auersperg was 
already at Scholler’s. 

On the conference table were several folded papers with print 
showing through. 

I said to myself: the contract I 

It wasn’t that, however, but only a counter-draft. 

Young Scholler, whom I liked much better today and who vir- 
tually gave me the impression of being an intellect, started right in 
to go through the individual items of my tabulation, though with- 
out the slightest expert knowledge. 

Then came Krupp who had something like a winter wind about 
him today. He was in an angry mood, as became apparent later dur- 
ing the brawl over my percentage. 

On the whole they had accepted my draft. They had no objec- 
tion to the salary of 24,000 guilders. But the percentage was to run 
only for the length of the contract, which was to be limited to five 
years. 

Now there was a lengthy discussion of these controversial points, 
frequently in a rather blunt commercial tone. After much back- 
and-forth, they finally conceded me, in lieu of a percentage, shares 
worth 100,000 guilders on the new paper, and 200,000 guilders in 
case the N. Fr. Pr. was acquired. The latter only after a sharp inci- 
dent. When I asked for an amount in shares that would correspond 
to a yearly net profit of 20,000 guilders, Krupp jumped up indig- 
nantly: 

Why, then you would make a tremendous profit. About half a 
million out of the purchase price of four millions. We can’t go to 
our friends with this.” 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1047 

And Scholler added: 

“Well, what are they going to say then? They are going to ask: 

‘Who is that man, anyway? Is he made of gold?’ ” 

I explained that in the interest of my children for whom I was 
working I must provide for the future. A man does a thing like this 
only once in a lifetime; if he does it, it must be successful; if it is, he 
must get something out of it. 

We finally agreed on the amounts of the compensation (50,000 
guilders) in case of an earlier dissolution of the contract through 
their giving notice, etc. 

I flatly rejected the stipulation that the Executive Committee 
should have the direction of the paper, for then I would have no 
more authority in the office. On the other hand, I accepted Auers- 
perg’s compromise proposal that the Executive Committee should 
have the “supervision.” 

However, even after this “agreement” the matter was not, and is 
not, concluded. To be sure, at my insistence Krupp finally declared 
somewhat testily that he had no further objections. But Scholler 
again was the more cautious one, pulled back at the last moment, 
and said: “We’ll sleep on that once more.” 

Now there is one final interval ’twixt the cup and the lip. What 
can come between them now? 

Despite everything, the irritability of the gentlemen is not a bad 
sign. For if they weren’t serious about things, they wouldn’t need 
to be so angry. 

Incidentally, I gathered from mysterious remarks about a joint 
visit they planned to make tomorrow morning that they would go 
to see Koerber. 

This was confirmed by Auersperg who accompanied me out to 
the ante-room after I had taken my leave. They would be received 
by Koerber tomorrow and therefore I should go to Koerber before 
that, this very day. Auersperg seems to have faith that the thing will 
materialize. 

Then I drove to the office which my master Benedikt had already 
left. I afterwards hurried to my parents with whom I had a late 


1048 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER ZL 

luncheon, because this bellicose conference had lasted t ;n 
o’clock. 1,1 tWo 

Once home, I wrote the above letter to Koerber, and now I 
waiting for an answer. m 


January 15 

Koerber sent me word by my gardener that he expected me at 
seven o’clock at his private residence. 

At seven on the dot I was there. In front of the house I saw a 

young guard who took a remarkably close look at the number of 
my cab. 

On the staircase I passed an elderly gentleman who was walking 
with deliberate slowness and evidently wanted to see at any cost 
where I was going. 

I would have preferred not to be seen, and I felt a little like 
Marianne in the first act of Gretel. 

Maison bourgeoise [middle-class house], the residence of the 
Prime Minister which he probably does not leave out of supersti- 
tion, because a civil-service minister never knows how long it will 

last. “Pourvu que f a dome [Provided it lasts] I” said Napoleon’s 
mother. 

K„ an old bachelor, also lives alone with his old mother. 

The maid was already expecting me and immediately took me 
to his rather elegant study by the back way, through his bedroom, 
v ere a used shirt and laid-out clothes as well as a large oil painting 
of a nude attracted my attention. 

Right after that Koerber came out in loose-fitting house clothes, 
in a woolen undershirt and slippers. Through the crack in the door 
I had seen his old mother sitting at the supper table. 

In a few words I reported to him about my negotiations. 

e asked whether I had been good and careful and implicated 
him in no way. 

On this point I could completely reassure him. He particularly 

, 1 W ^ nt P eo Pl e to find out that Krupp was in on it. 

You know— on account of his episode with the Reichswehr.” 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1049 

This, too, fully agreed with my own wishes. 

I observed: “But it appears to me that the gentlemen are very 
little informed. They negotiate with me as if I were the manager of 
a factory. They don’t seem to have any understanding of the politi- 
cal significance of the whole thing. 

“Never you mind. That’s awright. . . . but d’you think you re 
gonna get the Neue Press’ ? I don’t think he’s gonna let you have it.” 

I told him that I considered it possible. The danger of losing 
money, I said, was so important that Benedikt might give way. 

“It sure would be a reliefl” he muttered. “Why, he spoils every- 
thing with his stirring up things and his spitefulness. Even Lueger 
would keep quiet if the Neue Press’ didn’t keep startin’ things. 
He’d even take on Jewish teachers if it depended on that. But nol 
they keep stirrin’ him up. Look, it’s all right to write about any- 
thing. There was a satirical poem about me in the Wage. That 
didn’t bother me a bit. But that certain odious tone of Benedikt’s, 
that does an awful lot o’ harm. People abroad pay attention only to 
the Neue Press’ ... It would be a terrific relief if only that 
stopped.” 

In the same murmuring tone I held out hope to him that I might 
be able to carry the thing through if only arrangements were com- 
pleted quickly. If they gave me the contract today, I would imme- 
diately speak with Bacher, who plans to leave for the Riviera to- 
morrow, and conduct the negotiations with the greatest vigor. 

He said: “Scholler’s cornin’ to see me tomorrer at ten. I’m gonna 
talk to him.” 

I left. He again led me out through the bedroom, always moving 
in a way that was intended to keep me from seeing the toilet articles 
and the picture of the nude woman. 

He accompanied me as far as the hall door. 

When I was closing the hall door behind me, a gentleman was 
just coming up the stairs again. It was an elderly man with a grey 
moustache and blue eyes which he opened wide. He seemed to 
know me, and his eyes seemed to say: “Oh? So that’s where you’ve 
been. What was your business there?” 

So, on leaving, Marianne’s situation again. 


1050 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 


Is this the day of my liberation? 

Will a slave who slept badly last night go to bed 
night? 


January 15 
emancipated to- 


January 15,7:15 m the evening 

Letter to Koerber: 

Your Excellency: 

I beg to inform Your Excellency that unless I am mistaken the 
whole thing has come to a negative conclusion. I have just had a 
conversation with the gentleman who was received this morning 
and have the impression that he has abandoned the plan and is only 
looking for a polite way out. What has happened between yesterda 
and today I do not know. Naturally I shall facilitate the gentlemen’s 
withdrawal in every way. I do not need to assure Your Excellency 
of my absolute discretion, and remain, with deep respect, 

Your very obedient servant 
Th.H. 


* January 16 

Letter to Richard von Scholler: 

My Dear Sir: 

Since we are not likely to meet again in the near future, I should 

more out of a passion for logic — to come back to two of the 
remarks you made yesterday. 

First of all, you said that the attitude of your lesser colleagues in 
t e ast elections militated against the project. No, it speaks in its 
or. ou are surprised at not having produced a long-range ef- 
ect. A comparison will explain this most succinctly. 

ou possess power, that is certain. (This is why I took the matter 
ous y). But you could just as well put wires under a waterfall; at 
ot er end no effect would still be produced, even if it were 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1051 

Niagara Falls. To make the power transmissible, you must first 
convert it into electricity, and this is done by means of a dynamo. 
But such a machine must be constructed correctly and must work, 
otherwise it too is only junk. Once the installation is successful, 
YOU produce a long-range effect and propel wheels. 

The other matter was everybody’s consent, which you said must 
come first. In my modest opinion, this can never be attained in a 
large group. If it is achieved par impossible [in the face of its im- 
possibility], it is no gain. For then there appear all sorts of wind- 
bags, know-it-alls, and busybodies who frustrate sensible, purpose- 
ful work. You can’t get many heads under one hat. If you ask them 
first, the result is only talk, perhaps a brawl, and the hat is more 
likely to be torn to pieces than to be put on. That is why the guid- 
ing intellects must simply put on the hat and lead the way, then the 
others will tag along with admiration and devotion. Do they ad- 
mire the intellect? I cannot esteem the masses that highly. Rather, 
I believe that they admire the hat and the courage it took to put it 
on. This is the way things really are in the world. I have seen many 
kinds of individuals and of corporate bodies and have never found 
anything else. The big committees are just as rotten as the re- 
publics. 

If I understood Mr. Kr. correctly, he shares this view. 

Very sincerely and respectfully yours, 
Th.H. 


January 16 

Only now do I have a chance to enter the events of yesterday, a 
day that means a lost battle. 

Nothing was to be expected in the morning. As usual I went to 
the office of Die Welt, to my parents, and then to the Neue Freie 
Presse. Cordial conversation with Benedikt about the elections of 
two days ago, which he considers a victory, etc. 

But from 2:30 on I started to get nervous. I diverted myself by 
taking care of the material that had come in for me. Was it my last 



1052 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER ZL 

batch? Would I leave this last room with one window to beco 
emancipated? me 

Since becoming literary editor of the N. Fr. Pr. I had man 
thousands of times enclosed with rejected material the same letter 
expressing keen regret. Only a few weeks ago it had occurred to me 
that I could have the four main forms of these letters of rejection 
mimeographed. I discussed this with the stock-room manager and 
ordered the letters— and yesterday, of all days, they were delivered 
with my handwriting reproduced a hundred times. I gazed at these 
piles with hope and with regret, because they had come only now 
when they were superfluous. I immediately used these letter for 
some twenty mailings on which I only had to write the addresses. 

Meanwhile it had grown late. A call from Sch. was supposed to 
come by four o’clock. Half-past three, a quarter to four — nothing. 
I cheated my anticipation by working. A few times I was called to 
the telephone trifling annoyances. Then, at ten minutes past 
four, a letter came. The agreed-upon letter without signature. I 
was to come between four and six. I began to get a little feverish, 
but I did complete my work first. Come to think of it, “between 
four and six was strange, if all the gentlemen were to be there. 
Would they wait for me? I was in low spirits, to be sure, but did in- 
dulge in the possibility that an agreement was impending. 

I had to wait for a few minutes in the reception room. There 
were no drafts on the table. Then Sch. came out and immediately 
informed me that the situation was “not favorable.” I instantly had 
my complete composure and self-control. Rebus in arduis [in ad- 
verse circumstances] I always manage to keep my equilibrium. I 
listened to his remarks very amiably, the upshot of which was that 
I was to bring an offer for the purchase of the Neue Freie Presse and 
that they would then see how the necessary funds could be raised. 
This I declined to do. He then talked back and forth about a num- 
ber of other things which I tried to argue down even-temperedly. 
The most important things are mentioned in my letter above: he 
thought that the industrialists’ refusal to fall in line with his sug- 
gestions boded no good for the new paper. 

Only now did I begin to have a more discriminating view of this 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1053 
man There is a great deal of intelligence in his ponderous- 
le^He is like an elephant. He will yet play a big role in Austria. 
He evidently wants to be in the Reichsmt. He will become a Mims 

ter perhaps the head of a government. 

Orfly inthe end, when I was already taking my leave, did he get 
to the financial question: “You are asking such a loti Two to three 

hundred thousand guilders.” „ T 

“You will get plenty of people who will do it more cheap y, 
said with a shrug and bade him a friendly good-bye. He said he 
would let me hear from him again in a few days. I replied that I 
would probably go to Paris at the beginning of February. He 
smiled, apparently taking it for another pressure manoeuvre, like 
my mention of Bacher’s departure, although the latter actually did 
leave last night. 

As for me, without getting excited about it further, I think the 
whole thing has broken down. When I got home I immediately 
wrote and sent off the letter to Koerber. 

But I again slept rather badly in my chains. Had I let my libera- 
tion slip away? 

Yesterday evening I had agreed with my parents that I would 
write Auersperg today and ask that my original draft of a contract 
be returned to me. I slept on it and changed my mind. I mustn’t 
cut the line so sharply. I must continue to carry on negotiations, 
even though I no longer expect anything. There may still be turn- 
ing points. I can still have a saving idea. Maybe Koerber will save 
the situation by his intervention. Perhaps I shall find an honorable 
way of moderating my demands. 

In short, I didn’t write to Auersperg, but to Scholler. 


January 17 

Calm, but not the halcyon kind. 

No reaction from either Koerber or Scholler so far. 

The project really seems to have been abandoned. I am re- 
proaching myself greatly because of my excessive demands which 


1054 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzt 

may have wrecked the plan. I would now be satisfied with much 
less. I am softened up — et je suis rentre dans la domesticite [and I 
am back in harness]. 

Yesterday afternoon Marmorek and I inspected his Nestroy-Hof 
The house would make a wonderful building for a newspaper 
office. While I was taking the negotiations seriously, I didn’t dare 
to inspect the house out of superstition. Now I no longer cared. At 
some later date, when the matter is definitely over, I shall tell 
Marmorek what I had in mind with him. 

Again I slept miserably. In the dark morning hours, when 
my brain works best, it occurred to me that I can use this build- 
ing to resume negotiations. At the same time, as a test of the 
seriousness of their present intentions. If I haven’t heard any- 
thing by Monday, I shall then telephone Scholler, tell him that 
I have discovered a splendidly suited house which could be had 
for 5000 less than we tentatively budgeted, and ask him whether 
I should get a few days’ option from the owner. 

I had also figured out what I would tell them about Zionism 
which would have to come up in some fashion, because they must 
have informed themselves about me. 

I intended to say: “Zionism is the Danube-Oder canal of the 
Jewish Question, which Benedikt also kept silent about because 
of the rich Jews. It is a big thing, a world-historic solution to 
which I have even persuaded the German Kaiser. And Benedikt 
kept silent about it. And yet, if you don’t want me to, I would not 
even report Zionism in the objective form in which the Kolnische 
Zeitung and the Times or Temps have done it. My friends could 
not even hold it against me, for this would show them once again 
that my livelihood is independent of Zionism; that I do make 
sacrifices for it, but derive no profit from it. It is true that I 
could have the movement pay me a big salary, as has been offered 
me. I could also become the manager of the Bank which I have 
established. But I don’t want to. I earn my living only with my 

But at the same time I think to myself that through the great 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1055 

connections that I would then have I could be of infinitely 
greater service to Zionism than through a few partisan articles. 

# # # 

For consolation I tell myself, finally, that if Messieurs Sch. 
and K. rejected my demands which aimed at safeguarding my 
future — their ulterior motive might have been to exploit me, 
to have me set up the machinery for them, and then push me 
out. 


January 17 

Letter to Vdmb^ry: 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

The deadline has expired, and the project of the £800,000 loan 
is finished. The firm of Lissa & Kann withdraws from the trans- 
action, and this also cancels all promises of commission which it 
has made. Misled by C. and his associates in Constantinople, I 
have disgraced myself a bit in front of these financiers. The 
agents down there are really not to be taken seriously. Imagine, 
at the eleventh hour they put in a claim with me for much 
higher baksheesh than was originally agreed upon. Naturally this 
was the last straw. 

However, in this matter, which fortunately constituted only 
an incident sans consequence [incident with no consequences], 
I must be covered completely and in every direction. Of course, 
I don’t want to be the dupe of the financers either, nor to have 
my dear Schlesinger-hacst taken in. I hope you haven’t mentioned 
the name of the firm to anyone, for otherwise it would be possible 
that it will be approached directly now or later. But should you 
have been incautious enough despite my warning, I beg you 
immediately to inform the same man to whom you mentioned 
the firm that it pays no commissions. Caution urges me to notify 
you of this, and I beg you to confirm receipt of this cancellation. 

You probably remember my having written you that, prudently 


1056 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

enough, the firm of L. & K. had been brought in by the president 
of the Colonial Trust only for the single and specific purpose of 
this small loan. 

Our great project would of course be managed by a different 
and larger financial power. But I believe that we will first have to 
give Cohn trouble in order to make him amenable. 

My departure has been delayed by my indisposition during the 
last few days. Before starting out I want to be quite fit again, and 
this will probably be the case in eight or ten days. 

With cordial regards. 


Your loyal 
Dori. 


January 18 

Sleepless nights. 

If I think of freedom, which seemed so close, at night, it costs 
me my sleep.* 

This morning, however, I received a letter from Auersperg: 
why didn 1 1 call on him “sometime.” But so as not to appear over- 
anxious, I am answering him that I have no time before Mon- 
day the 2 ist and will come then. 

* # # 

Meanwhile I want to write a political feuilleton for my duelling 
opponents sans en avoir I’air [without making it look like one]. 

As a thread on which to string my glass beads I chose the sub- 
ject of the population question. Benedikt, whom I informed of 
this yesterday, couldn’t see that as material for a feuilleton. But 
I stuck to it. Thereupon he himself supplied me with material on 
political economics, a book by Molinari, etc. Comedy hasn’t dis- 
appeared yet. 

/4i * Translator s Note: A paraphrase of a line from Heine's poem Nachtgedanken 
(' Denk' ich an Deutschland in der Nacht/So bin ich um den Schlaf gebracht"). 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1057 

January 21 

Yesterday evening I played cards with my wife’s relatives. I 
wlted to keep on pfaying and then sleep through the abbreviated 
night, so thaU wouldn’t have such a muzzy head today as I did 

after the previous sleepless nights. ... 

But I lost a lot and was greatly put out. Now this shall be 
lesson to me to play cautiously in today’s conference and to lose 


January 22 

Yesterday evening I went to see Auersperg. He was very amiable, 
I, reserved. 

He said the Prime Minister had shown him my letter (that is 
what I had written it for), but that it was by no means all over. 
The industrialists only wanted to make the foundation secure. 
I would probably be invited to a conference this very week. 

I told him that I would like to attend this conference only on 
condition that my emolument wasn’t discussed any more. I said I 
didn’t like the idea of talking about my salary and my abilities 
like a tutor or a female cook. The financial question had been 
discussed sufficiently. Let the gentleman make a definite offer. 
I would accept it or decline it, and come to the conference only 
if I had accepted it. 

For I am determined to accept any proposition whatever, be- 
cause the financial opportunity is not remotely so important to 
me as the freedom, the fealty to the Emperor alone, which beck- 
ons to me in case an agreement is reachedl 

Then, too, I want no more nervous strain from this conference. 

All right either way. 


January 22 

V£mb£ry writes under date of the 18th inst. that I can set my 
mind at rest, he hadn’t mentioned Kann’s name to anyone. 


1058 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 

January 24 

Jours d'attente [days of waiting]. After Auerspetgs words r 
certainly can't assume that the project has been abandoned o 
have we plunged back into the indecision 'ttvixt the cup and the 

The day before yesterday, when I was on my way to the Neue 
re,e Presse, it suddenly occurred to me that my situation bears 
a resemblance to the one of 22 years ago when I was sighing mv 
way through the last weeks of secondary school. Before me lav 
graduation, and beyond that, the freedom of the university * 

Kni “ PeC * th ' In " U ' ion to the conference for tomorrow, because 
ropp said that Friday was his lucky day. I've been kept on the 
stnng for two weeks now. “ 


* * * 

ha™T' d m Y •r* ° f "" miradeS if ^ Zionism did ”« 

rm me with these financiers of the Christian faith. Don’t they 
know about it yet? Can it be that they will not find out before the 

ufdo h?m ‘ Y ery ,m P robable that they won't, for they will 

tio„ h b d y mquiri . es in adv ance about me at an inform* 

this and tHe fim ‘ tem must surel >' be: Zionist. And will 

this then be grounds for a break? “I don't like the nose”? 

farin ' Y Y U “ d to waitin 8 for decisions, too, and so I am 
lacing the conung events * with more composure than I had las. 


January 24 

also for ft. even * n & not hing has come. I am consoling myself 

rn-eat Hi H eventua ^ l y t ^ lat nothing may come of it. It would have 

thine- nm Van ^ a £ es ’ toa 1 woul d surely be unable to produce any- 
thing more and would be sniped at by all the world every day. 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1059 

January 25, in the evening 


Nothing* 

If nothing comes tomorrow too, it will be all over, pour de bon 

[for good and all] . 

I have already consoled myself. 

To be sure, my draft of a contract said that the paper must be 
run honestly and respectably in every way— but perhaps later they 
would have exerted pressure on me anyway, in the spirit of capital- 
istic exploitation and squeezing the people dry by industrial mag- 
nates. I would have had to put up with it or get out — despite all 
independence, even as my own editor-in-chief. 

Actually, I lost no more in these negotiations than the free 
hours of the last few days which I ordinarily use for my own 
work. And all it cost me was a few cab fares. 

Of course, it would have been the most ingenious arrangement 
of my life to have Christian big capitalists found a newspaper for 
me, under the benevolent eye of the Austrian government, in 
which I could have worked dynamically for very lofty ideas. 

It would just be interesting to know what wrecked the proj- 
ect. Was it the discovery that I am a Zionist? 

After I have entered this additional item, the episode will be 
finished for me and my diary. 

Who knows what it was good for? 


Niente [nothing]! 


January 26, evening 


January 26 

A fatuous letter from Crespi: I am to guarantee that no tolle 
general [general outcry) would result in Europe if the Sultan 
received me. 


# In English in the original. 


1060 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I am answering: Get me the audience, pocket the audience 
baksheesh, and leave the rest to Allah. 


January 27 

This morning between dark and light was fruitful. I drew up 
my plan of action for the next two weeks. The day after tomorrow 
I shall inform Koerber and Auersperg of my departure for Paris 
on February 2, asking Koerber to receive me before that date, 
if possible. I even know everything that I am going to tell him. 

In any case, I want to put a stop to this waiting and baiting.* 
If the paper project has a negative outcome, I will speak with 
Reitlinger and Edmond Rothschild in Paris. 

I am already having a dinner with Lord Rothschild arranged 
at Seligmanns house in London. There I shall sketch the out- 
line of a Jewish financial policy entre la poire et le fromage [over 
the dessert]. 

Further, I am having a banquet with the Zionist M.P.’s arranged 
by Cowen and Greenberg. 

I shall also put things in order at the Bank, and perhaps take 
the occasion of a mass meeting** to announce the start of the 
Bank’s operations. 


January 28 

Today the hilarious “Consul-General” Fischl “von Dirsztay” 
came to see me and brought me letters from Crespi, who now wants 
a monthly salary of 1000-2000 francs. I told Dirsztay that Crespi 
had better not make a fool of himself. Before he had obtained 
that audience with the Sultan for me I wasn’t interested in having 
any further dealings with him. After the audience it would prob- 
ably be no trouble to employ Crespi as a correspondent at 1000 to 
1 500 francs a month. 

; Tiambtor’# N°te : Herzl’s play on words is Warterei und Marterei. 

In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1061 

January 29 

After what jactatio in alto [tossing about on the sea]* day alter 
day from morning till night, I am finally writing these two letters. 

To Koerber: 

Your Excellency: . 

I am planning to be out of town for about two weeks early in 

February. My next address will be Hotel Chatham, rue Daunou, 
Paris. I would postpone my departure from Vienna only if some- 
thing important came up. However, this does not seem to be the 

case at present. 

With sincere respect, 

* Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, 

Th. H. 


To Auersperg: 

My Dear Count Auersperg: 

Early in February I plan to take a trip of about two weeks, 
going to Paris first. Should the gentlemen with whom we have 
talked wish to see me before my departure, it would have to be 
this week. 

With deep respect, I am 


Your very obedient servant 
Th. H. 


January 30 

Three months tom out of my life, bit by bit, in great expec- 
tations.** 

• Translator’s Note: Reference to Virgil’s Aeneid, Bk. I, l.«: "multum ille et terris 
lactatus et alto” 

••Editor’s Note: In English in the original. Reference to the title of Dickens’ 
novel. 


1062 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

First that fellow Crespi, who led me a merry chase, then the 
big-business boys with their newspaper. In the meantime I 
have neglected my novel which becomes worse and worse and more 
and more insipid the longer it lies there. 

Now I have to go to London and won’t be able to get back m 
my desk again for three weeks. ° 

The wind blows through the stubble. I feel the autumn of mv 
life approaching. I am in danger of leaving no work to the world 
and no property to my children. 

It would be ridiculous to take up the novel again two days before 
my departure. But I am giving myself my word of honor that I 
will do so right after I return. 


January 3 1 , evening. 

Until now I actually still believed that something would come 
of the newspaper project. But since I have had no sign of life up to 
now— Thursday evening— and I had placed myself at their dis- 
posal only until the end of the week, there can no longer be any 
doubt of the negative conclusion. 

It has left me with an uneasy feeling. 


February 4, Paris 

Until the last moment before my departure I hoped to get 
some word on the paper project. 

Nothing. Mort et entere [dead and buried].* 


February 4, Paris 

Through the greatest of all coincidences I got onto a new track 
n t e rient Express yesterday. A nice Parisian woman, who 
... e . a P art y fellow travelers with her chatter, was respon- 
* ° r Retting better acquainted with a good talker. It was 

va-t-en guerre " ^ 0te ' ^ phrase from the famous French song "Malbrouck s'en 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1063 

farmer inspector of the Ottoman Bank who is now going to 
S “manager of a go,d mine. I had him tell me all he 
knew about Turkey and her finances. I learned that the de e 
Mue [public debt], like the Ottoman Bank, was in the hands 
[i the Protestant Parisian (as well as London) haute banque 
[bigbankers]: Mallet, Hottinguer, Pillet-Will, etc. 

On the basis of this I constructed a new plan in the sleepless 

hours between night and morning. 

If Lord Rothschild, as Cowen informs me, refuses to meet with 
me, I shall try to get from the Ottoman group, through Reitlinger, 
an option on its Turkish assets. This group will perhaps be glad 
to get out of Turkey with a profit of 50-60 million francs and to 
leave us its bonds as a fair exchange for the Charter. 

I am now going to see Reitlinger. 


February 5, Paris 

Spoke with Reitlinger. He thought the idea of buying out the 
Ottoman group very good. 

I explained to him my plan of acquiring from the Ottoman 
group an option on their holdings of Turkish bonds. With this 
option in our hands we could demand the Charter from the Sultan 
in return for surrendering the dette publique. 

Reitlinger thinks, however, that we would have to give the 
Ottoman group a guarantee of at least 50 million francs, and this 
would require the formation of a big syndicate. 


February 9, London 

Arrived last night. 

Cowen, Greenberg met me at the station; Wolffsohn, Katzenel- 
sohn, Rosenbaum at the hotel. 

I requested Seligmann to come to see me. He did. Zanewill 
came of his own accord. 

At first I drew Seligmann aside and explained the dette publique 


1064 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

plan to him. He laughed at me for believing that I could get 
Rothschild for it; incidentally, the two have had a falling out 
Lord Rothschild’s fortune, he said, didn’t amount to five million 
pounds. The South Africans Wemher, Breit, and people like 
that were wealthier. 

Then I discussed the other way to R. with Zangwill and Cowen. 
Zangwill would like to bring R’s cousin. Lady Battersea, into the 
picture, and I gave my consent to this. 


February 9 

Zangwill is bending every effort to build social bridges to Lord 
Rothschild for me. 

I am supposed to go to dinners, etc. Greenberg wanted to try it, 
without my approval, through Asher Myers, the editor* of the 
Jewish Chronicle and Lord R’s adviser in communal matters .* 
But when I found out about this, I rejected this method, because 
Asher Myers is a wretched fellow. 

Then it occurred to me this morning that a snobbish way to 
R. would be the one via the King of England. 

I therefore decided on the following telegram to the Grand 
Duke: 

To His Royal Highness Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden. 

I am addressing a very great request to the tried-and-true benev- 
olence of Your Royal Highness. It would be of the greatest 
value to the cause in whose service I have placed my feeble powers 
if I were received by His Majesty the King of England, even though 
for but a quarter of an hour. I should like briefly to expound to 
His Majesty the unaltered basic features of the plan with which 
Your Royal Highness is acquainted. 

My whole desire consists in being allowed to inform His 
Majesty the King of the matter, and I wish to request his Most 
High Benevolence for it — no more and no less. In the English 
Parliament some thirty deputies of all parties are favorably dis- 
• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1065 

posed toward our cause and intend to bring it up for discussion 
when the opportunity arises. We have had the good fortune to 
gain valuable sympathizers in English church circles. This and 
no more I would like to tell His Majesty. 

My respectful request is that Your Royal Highness may be 
pleased if possible to introduce me to His Majesty telegraphically 
in such a way that I shall be granted an audience in the next few 
days. I can stay here only until Thursday or Friday. With deepest 
respect and most heart-felt gratitude. 

Your Royal Highness’ devoted servant 
Dr. Th. H., Hotel Cecil. 

London, February 13 

A few listless days, with sporadic hours of dejection. I omitted 
noting these moods. 

The following wire came from Karlsruhe: 

Grand Duke instructs me to inform you that His Highness 
regrets being unable to give you requested recommendation in 
desired way, considering political significance of your business. 

Babo. 

* * # 

Actually, I hadn’t even had a strong desire to be received by 
the King. 

More than by this refusal I was worried by the feuilleton about 
M’amour [My Love] in the Palais Royal” which I have intended 
to write every day since leaving Paris and haven’t been able to 
finish because of constant disturbances. This feuilleton was sup- 
posed to be an excuse for my absence from the AT. Fr. Pr., for my 
s taying away is irregular, and, after all, some day I could lose my 
job on such a trip. 

Until I got the idea to ask my good father — two days ago — to see 
Benedikt and ask him how much the N. Fr. Pr. costs. The question 
coming from here will throw them off the scent. 


1066 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

This evening the reply came from my father, saying that B 
wanted to discuss the matter with Bacher. 

He will obviously say no, but no longer dare to reproach me 
because of my absence. 

* # # 

The conference with Rothschild has been refused by him. 
Zangwill, who has become very nice now and is all Zionist, had 
me meet Lord Rothschild’s cousin. Lady Battersea, yesterday. She 
was waiting for me in Zangwill’s apartment. A charming old 
woman, kind, amiable, refined. I explained everything to her, 
made my old Address to the Rothschilds to her. She was won over 
and immediately contacted Lady R. Their meeting was to take 
place today at Lady Battersea’s house. 

However, this noon a telegram came from Zangwill:* 

She (Lady Battersea) wires following three words: “Quite un- 
successful, alas.” 

Zangwill. 

At the same time a letter came from Alex Marmorek, saying that 
Edmond Rothschild didn’t wish to see me. 

Maintenant c’est bien fini des Rothschild [now I am completely 
finished with the Rothschilds]. 

I just saw cross-eyed Meyersohn of the I.C.A. — I think it was 
a t the hotel. It is not impossible that he is here in order to 
thwart me if I should undertake something. 

Je suis leur hete noire [I am their bogeyman]. 

The Jews are a wrangling, divided people. In the East End 1 
made peace between such factions. I was able to do it, because they 
consider me above them. 

Wrangling in the West End, too. 

Lady Battersea complained about Sir Francis’ Congress speeches. 
So the Rothschild family has remembered these speeches. Sir 
• Original text. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1067 

Francis Montefiore, on his part, today sent me a derogatory book 
about the Rothschilds by Reeves, in which a passage about their 
quarrel with the P^reire family was especially marked. Yesterday, 
when he had luncheon with me, he already recommended that I 
form a coalition against the R’s with the aid of the P^reires’s, be- 
cause there was an old family feud there. 

# # * 

I am writing to Lady Battersea: 

My dear Lady Battersea: 

Permit me to say to you before my departure a word of the 
most cordial thanks for your kindness. You were not able to help 
me further, but I was nevertheless delighted with you. Surely I 
may say this to a lady of your age. For the sake of Lady Battersea the 
House of Rothschild will one day be forgiven a great deal. Tout 
cela, c’est de I’histoire [All this is for history]. 

Your cousin and I are two eras that do not understand each 
other. I understand him better than he understands me. Thus I 
consider it quite loyal that he does not even want to see me, since 
he is determined not to participate. It would be less nice if he used 
excuses. But it is a mistake on his part to believe that he does not 
commit himself by keeping away entirely. There are ideas which 
one cannot escape. One commits oneself by saying yes, by saying no, 
and by saying nothing at all. 

Your cousin could have expedited a great work which he is too 
weak and too poor to prevent. Now many hundreds of thousands 
of people will continue to sigh, continue to weep. Among these are 
men and women who are in despair, children who are going to seed. 

We must simply go on working as best we can and do our recog- 
nized duty. As for me, I shall always remember you. Milady, with 
pleasure and gratitude. 

With sincere admiration, 


Yours very sincerely, 
Th. Herzl. 


1068 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

February 20, Vienna 

After mature consideration I didn’t mail this letter after all. 
Zangwill wrote me that Lady Battersea had also won Lady Roths- 
child to our cause. This has to suffice for the time being. 

Letters and telegrams, London, February 1901. 


February 20, Vienna. 

Yesterday a wire came from Crespi which he sent from Pera and 
which has thus come to the attention of the Turkish government; 
in it he asks me to renew last November’s offer of a loan, since the 
T urkish government needs money again. 

I am answering him immediately: 

“Je ne ferai absolument rien, avant d’etre appete [I shall do ab- 
solutely nothing before I am summoned].” 


February 20 

Today Bresse, a teacher of French, brought Don Diego Lastras, 
a Spanish abbot attached to the local Spanish Embassy, to see me. 
Lastras needs 3000 guilders as security for the congrua [emolument 
for prospective priests]. I promised him to think about how I could 
get this amount for him. 

I think I shall be able to use him in Rome at some time or other. 
I would have given him the money immediately if I had had it. But 
I’ll try to get it for him. 

Lastras used to be a Dominican and then became a diocesan 
priest. I should very much like to have a Catholic helper too. 


February 25 

Another communique from the Politische Korrespondenz about 
the prohibition of immigration, but with the interesting statement 
that Italy is against it. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1069 

According to my old principle, this new difficulty must again be 
used for getting ahead. I am writing Nordau to try to inspire parlia- 
mentary intervention in France and Italy; Cowen is to do likewise 
in England, Gottheil in America. Once these voices are heard, I 
shall have Vdmb^ry call the Sultan’s attention to the fact that he 
would do better to come to an understanding with us and our 
money than with the Powers which will demand the same thing 
from him gratis. 

This will possibly be the theme of the 5th Congress; we shall call 
upon the Powers to get us permission to immigrate — all the Pow- 
ers I A tremendous appeal! 


February 26 

Between night and morning it occurred to me who must make 
the interpellation in the French Chamber of Deputies: Rouanet, 
who, as Leven told me at Salzburg in 1895, received money for 
his speech abou t J ews. 

Today I am sending instructions to Alex Marmorek, without 
telling him Rouanet’s secret. 


February 26 

Letter to Leopold Auersperg announcing my return. 


March 1 

Yesterday evening Prof. Kellner was at our house. He brought 
up a subject en passant [in passing] which has frequently occupied 
me and which I haven’t explored further only on account of my 
family; my moving to London. My wife didn’t seem to have any 

objections to it. If I can also persuade my parents, I shall go through 
with it. 

The suggestion continued working in me all night. I could al- 
ready see everything in London: my house in Regent’s Park, my 
parents’ apartment nearby, the Congress Office, the office of the 


1070 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

two editions of the Welt, my communication with the East End 
weekly articles in the Yiddish edition (letters to the East End- “M 
Dear East End. . . . Your Friend Th. H.”), my visits of inspj 
tion to the Colonial Trust which will flourish because of mv 
ence — a whole full life. 

This would presuppose the N. Fr. Pr.’s giving me the position of 
London correspondent with a minimum of £1000 a year and a 5 
or 10-year contract. But perhaps my leaving Vienna would be 
worth that much to them. Situation a. creuser [A situation to ex- 
plore] ! 


March 5 

This morning I read to my surprise that Parliament wants to go 
back to work after a strike of almost four years. To Koerber’s very 
remarkable credit. 

I immediately wrote him: 

Your Excellency: 

My congratulations on the tremendous success which, to be sure, 
as is customary here in Austria, people will spoil, belittle, and later 
deny, but which, nevertheless, no one but you has accomplished. I 
would recommend starting a collection of newspaper opinions 
from the past half-year, especially the past month, where what is an 
actuality today was called a fantastic impossibility, and to submit 
the most characteristic expressions of opinion to the Emperor. S a 
Majeste s amusera [His Majesty will be amused]. 

With deep respect, 


Your Excellency’s most obedient servant 
Th. H. 


March 6 

Koerber writes a card with “warmest thanks for your very kind 
words” and “hopes for a personal meeting soon.” Thus the thread 
is not completely broken yet. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1071 

March 14 

Yesterday I was called to Police Headquarters to give informa- 
tion about the deceased Russian Georg Taubin who visited me 
quite some time ago in order to bequeath his property— I believe 
he once mentioned 200,000 guilders and another time 140,000 
rubles— to me for the use of the Zionist movement. I can still see 
him in my mind’s eye and described him to the police inspector 
the way I see him: How he came to see me the first time in the Cot- 
tage section in company with Dr. Brod’s brother and spoke sensi- 
bly, even nobly. How some time later, at the request of my friends, 
I returned his visit and found him in a strange get-up, drunk or de- 
mented. On this visit, too, he declared that he wanted to donate 
some money to me for Jewish purposes. I no longer remember 
whether he mentioned the 200,000 guilders on that second occa- 
sion or on the first one. The figure has stayed with me; it cannot 
have been crowns at that time. (The police attorney spoke of an 
estate of 600,000 crowns). I also told them how I had then left, 
promising Taubin to call on him again and let him know. Which 
I didn’t do, however, because I didn’t want to accept any money 
from a madman. I also told my friends that I was dropping the mat- 
ter because I didn’t want such money. 

I saw Taubin on one subsequent occasion, at a students’ party 
at the Bayrischer Hof, where he sneaked past me with the look of a 
whipped dog, but didn’t dare to come close to me, obviously be- 
cause he was ashamed of having been drunk that time. 

The banker Vogl — from a wealthy anti-Zionist familyl — has 
cheated his way into possession of the inheritance I scorned. 


March 14 

I am now industriously working on A Itneuland. 

My hopes for practical success have now disintegrated. My life is 
no novel now. So the novel is my life. 


1072 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

March 16 

Letter from Crespi who wants to have me for some financial in- 
trigue. Refused. 


March 18 

The Taubin affair — the Russian Taubin who wanted to be- 
queath his money to me — has risen from the dead again and is now 
in the papers, because Vogl the banker has committed inheritance 
fraud. 

Some people admire me because I didn’t let myself be dazzled 
by the 200,000 guilders. Others explain the matter to themselves 
by saying that I didn’t take Taubin to be so rich. This is the rascally 
point of view taken by the Neues Wiener Tagblatt (W. Singer). 
Yesterday I wrote Singer an indignant letter. 

It is curious the way the pares [peers] always get together. The 
moneyed Jews, as whose representative Vogl must be regarded, are 
secretly furious at me 1) because I have given an example of re- 
straint when confronted by money, 2) because it is becoming ap- 
parent that I am different from them. 

Logically enough, in the polemics greater emphasis is placed on 
the insane character of Zionism, while for a time it had been custo- 
mary to mark me, in connection with the Colonial Trust, as a confi- 
dence man and cutpurse. 


March 18 

Two evenings ago I went to see Kremenezky and found Seidener 
there. What did we discuss, of course? Palestine Exploration.* 
Seidener said that one of the first things he was going to make in 
Palestine some day was a limestone sand brickworks, using the sys- 
tem known only for the past two years. 

“How much money will this require?” I asked. 

“200,000 francs!” 

• In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1073 

“I will get that for you. On the 29th of this month there will be a 
board meeting* here. I will bring up the matter. The brickworks 
shall come into being at the same time as the branch bank at Jaffa. 

This gave me a second idea. We shall establish this brickworks as 
an Austrian or German anonymous joint-stock company. That way 
we shall have the protection of these powers. In the meantime the 
shares will be put in our Bank’s portfolio. 

I believe this moment was another turning point in the move- 
ment. We are moving out into the practical. 

The Turkish government can prohibit the immigration of set- 
tlers, but not a German, French, or Austrian industrial establish- 
ment. 

Perhaps I shall call Beer the sculptor in on this. 


March 19 

Letter from Nordau about negative result with Deputy B£rard 
who was supposed to make an interpellation regarding the T urkish 
difficulties about immigration into Palestine. However, B£rard 
offered to bring Nordau together with Foreign Minister Delcass^, 
which Nordau declined as pointless. 

I am writing Nordau to go back to Rouanet and keep Delcass^ in 
reserve. 


* # * 

Letter from C., who talks drivel about a loan of three million 
pounds which Krupp is flirting with. 

He says that he has written to the Sultan, warning him not to 
make such a bad deal, but to summon me instead. 


March 2 1 

Beginning of Spring. 

^ C . Uri0US day and “ one, I believe, 

tin, the bank dtrector whom I had sent for from Russia, pre- 
In English in the original. 


1074 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

sented to me, Wolffsohn, Kremenezky, Marmorek, and Kokesch his 
plan to buy up the shares of the Jaffa-Jerusalem railroad plus all 
that goes with it. I thought this a splendid idea. In Levontin I may 
have found the long-sought banker. 

I accepted this plan and today am sending it to Paris, where the 
Palestinian Navon, the agent for the railroad shares, lives. 

Levontin will be here again next week. Then he will go to Lon- 
don as assistant manager of the Trust. He will stay there till au- 
tumn in order to put the Colonial Trust in order. Then we shall 
send him to Jaffa as manager of our branch. 

However, it is not to appear as a branch but as an independent 
bank with its home office in Cologne, Germany. 

Yesterday I had Marmorek write to Bodenheimer to draw up the 
by-laws etc. of the bank for Jerusalem and Jaffa immediately. Share 
capital 500,000 Marks with assets of 50%- The Trust will take over 
the shares and put them in the portfolio, in order to give up the 
minority holdings when revenue comes in later. 

The controlling shares of the Jaffa railroad as well as of all enter- 
prises will always have to remain in the possession of the Trust. 

Next week I shall call Beer, who is to go to Palestine to set up a 
cement and brick factory. 

Yesterday another idea came to me in a flash: to buy a Mediter- 
ranean shipping company, that is, one that is not doing well, whose 
control can be had cheaply, and which we shall then reorganize. 
The Adria” of Fiume would be suitable for this, as a cursory 
glance into the commercial register tells me. 

Levontin also has the idea of making our Jaffa bank the collector 
of taxes and customs in Palestine for the Turkish government. 


March 2 1 

A letter from Crespi with the enclosure of a Turkish letter which 
he claims to have written the Sultan in our interest. 

I am sending this Turkish swindle to Vdmbdry for translation, 

asking him at the same time whether he is ready to go to Constanti- 
nople. 6 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1075 

March 24 

Before day-break yesterday I decided to speak with Benedikt 
about my transfer to London. 

During the day I wrote a feuilleton entitled “ Vber - und Unter- 
brettl,”* though greatly distracted by the thought of being an ad- 
venturer.** 

In the evening I sent the manuscript to the office by my gardener. 
Then I called Benedikt to the telephone and asked for an appoint- 
ment for today or tomorrow morning, to discuss something. 

Right away I heard the excitement in his voice over the tele- 
phone. Why didn’t I say immediately what it was all about. I re- 
fused. He became more pressing, like someone who is afraid he 
won’t be able to sleep till he knows. I had to laugh into the tele- 
phone, but stuck to my refusal. However, we won’t be able to talk 
until the day after tomorrow, T uesday afternoon. 


March 25 

The ability of the Bank to operate” has been the unsolved prob- 
lem for a long time. 

I have had the following idea which I had already touched upon 
several times and finally made Wolffsohn and Rosenbaum under- 
stand yesterday. There are now 317,000 shares which have been 
subscribed and on which a down-payment has been made, but only 
£200,000 has been paid in cash on them. Now I think that one 
ought to find a banker or a group who would pay in cash the re- 
maining 60% on the shares on which a down-payment of 40% has 
ee„ made , and in rctum for we wou]d ^ 

sohn 1 ^ SeCUn ? ^ Wdl 3S a guarantee and a commission. Wolff- 

thought il wou,d be im - 

Qbaret." P ln « utle m *ght be rendered as "Supercabaret and Sub- 

In English in the original. 



1076 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

March 25 

I am writing to Crespi that Vdmb<hy is ready to go to the Sultan 
if he is summoned. This is what Vamb^ry had written me the day 
before yesterday. He thinks Taptschi Crespi ’s Turkish letter to the 
Sultan might be a fraud. 


March 27 

When I got to the office yesterday, Benedikt had already left. It 
seemed to me that he had evaded me. And this was indeed so. For 
when we met today, he looked embarrassed, and when I told him 
that I wanted to speak with him now, he really recoiled. “No, no,” 
he resisted, “not with me alone. If you have some editorial matter 
to tell us about, tell it to me in Bacher’s presence. We always have 
differences of opinion afterwards; you claim to have heard some- 
thing different. So it is best if Bacher is a witness.” 

But I still wouldn t be put off and told it to him: It is possible 
that I shall go to London. 

He took it with mixed emotions: joy and regret. He said that 
they couldn t do without me here, couldn’t spare the literary editor 
and still less the Vienna feuilletonist. He saw absolutely no possible 
replacement. But if I insisted on it — they would simply let me have 
my way, just as they did when I wanted to come back here from 
Paris. If they had to make a choice between losing me entirely or 
sending me to London, they would naturally do the latter, for the 
Herzl brand must not be lost to the Neue Freie Presse. In short, the 
most extreme compliments. He said that the two of us — he and I — 
in that room were the best that Viennese journalism had produced. 
There was no substitute for us. And actually, I was too good for a 
correspondent, et autres balivernes [and other nonsense]. But if I 
insist on it, it will be done. 

There obviously remains the question of money. This may be 
the stumbling-block. 

We parted friends. He was really charming. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1077 

March 27 

A bluffing letter from Crespi. I am supposed to write him that 
the Zionists would fight a usurious loan which the Sultan plans to 
take from Krupp. Pas si bete [Not so stupid]. Of course, I am not 
taken in by him and won’t even answer him. For he would commit 
blackmail and fraud with my letter. 


March 28 

Forgot to enter from the conversation with Benedikt: He asked 
me how long I wanted to stay in London. I said: “For goodl Unless 
you called me back to Vienna to be co-publisher of the Neue Freie 
Presse.” 

This he rejected with his hands and his eyes. 

But he said he expected one good thing from my London so- 
journ: that I would give up Zionism and return a different person 
after a few years. 

I answered: "Why, the very idea! I shall never abandon Zion- 
ism.” 

That I am going to London precisely because of Zionism he 
didn’t guess and I didn’t tell him. 


April 2 

The whole London project collapsed the next day, because I told 
my parents about it and they got terribly excited. They won’t 
come along at any price. If I don’t manage to persuade them in a 
shrewder way, I shall have to abandon the entire plan. 


April 2 

Yesterday with Alex Marmorek. 

He wants to turn over his remedy for tuberculosis to Reitlinger 
m Paris and will settle for 50% of the net profits, because Reit- 
linger will make the 200,000 francs available. 


1078 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I told him that the Colonial Trust could handle this instead of 
Reitlinger. If Alex presents Reitlinger’s draft contract, both we 
and he will be covered against recriminations. I consider it a splen- 
did acquisition for our Bank. The shares will at once rise greatly in 
value, and because I am firmly convinced of it and must accord- 
ingly persuade Alex to leave the matter to us, I shall sell my 2000 
shares. Then it will be documented that I am not asking Alex for 
this donation to the Bank in my interest. For I am letting my shares 
go the way I bought them, minus loss of interest. It is, of course, 
something exaggerated on my part, but it is necessary, because only 
this will give me the authority— in Alex’ eyes as well as those of 
outsiders — to support this arrangement effectively. 

Something that Alex will probably not do at Reitlinger’s: He 
could stipulate a year’s monopoly on his remedy for the benefit of 
the Jewish people. After one year he can announce the remedy to 
the public. However, the prospect of this one year will put the 
Bank on its feet, because all the shares will be subscribed if the 
J .C.T . has such a business in its hands. 

Preliminary question, of course: is the remedy any good? 


April 3 

Yesterday Alex, Oscar and Isidor Marmorek came to see me. 
They gave quite the correct reasons why it wasn’t feasible to turn 
Alex tuberculin over to the J.C.T. The physicians hit in their 
livelihood would seize the chance and call it a put-up swindle on 
the part of the Zionist Bank. 

I was convinced by this argument. 

* # # 

Meanwhile an expedient occurred to me overnight. Alex could 
tell Reitlinger that he has an offer from me, but that he is declining 
it, so as not to incur suspicion that he is using his position on the 
A C. to make a business deal. However, he did want to let the 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1079 

movement get some benefit, and therefore he was stipulating that 
Reitlinger give the J.C.T. an option to buy his share for a million 
francs when the gross receipts had reached 1,200,000 francs. 

# * # 


April 4 

Vimb^ry writes me who his friends around Cohn are (Crespi’s 
request), and calls me to Pest. 


April 1 1 

Yesterday I was in Pest to see Vdmbdry. 

He himself offered to go to the Sultan now, because according to 
the latest reports he was high in favor at present. The Sultan would 
probably want Vdmbdry to establish a good relationship with Ed- 
ward VII with whom V. is friends. V. intends to use this oppor- 
tunity to tell the Sultan that he should send for me, because I could 
be of use to him in a variety of ways. V. plans to say to the Sultan: 
"After all, you can hoodwink Herzl. Be friendly toward him; that 
won’t commit you in the least.” 

I mentioned to V. that I might be able to work out an arrange- 
ment involving the redemption of the Turkish debt, etc. 

In short, V. is leaving next week. As traveling expenses he asked 
for 600 guilders, but I offered him a thousand guilders — more cor- 
rectly, 2000 francs. Which he accepted, remarking: “I shall return 
to you any part that I don’t use.” 

I am also prepared for his returning without any result — but 
this expenditure must be risked. Now the treasury of the A.C. is so 
empty that we have to raise these 2000 francs in the form of a 
forced loan from the Viennese members of the A.C., because we 
don t want to use the deposit of £3000 in the Unionbank which 
is available to us by the Board’s decision until I get the summons to 
Constantinople. 


1080 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

April 1 1 

Just received a most curious letter from Crespi: I am to ask 
Vdmbdry what was in the letter-package which he received recently 
from Yildiz Kiosk via the Foreign Minister. And whether there was 
anything in it that concerned our pending negotiations. The word- 
ing of Crespi’s letter is strange: as if he knew that there was some- 
thing of interest to me in the package. If that is correct, something 
more serious than I had thought and he told me might be behind 
VdmMry’s decision to go to Constantinople. Then his bonhomie 
[joviality] would have a false bottom; he knows already that the 
Sultan wishes to see me and is just playing a trick on me. C’est ce 
que nousverrons [That is what we shall see]. 

* # # 

April i 3 

The day before yesterday Alex Marmorek came to see me before 
his departure for London and suggested that I take over one-tenth 
of the amount which Reitlinger is to give for the T.B. serum. I 
immediately declined, because I want no financial benefits from 
which are probable in this case. He said that he was thinking 
of my children; still, I didn’t want to. Now my wife reproaches me 
with it, perhaps my children, too, whom I have also deprived of so 
much earning power, would some day reproach me if Alex’ remedy 
yields the participants a big profit. For this reason I am writing him 
the following letter, not without a certain repulsion: 

Mailed on April 15 

Dear Alex: 

I was incautious enough to tell my wife — without any details — 
that you wanted to give me an opportunity to participate in an 
enterprise I consider splendid, and that I rejected your proposal 

because we are friends. Now she gives me no peace with her re- 
proaches. 

The nagging wouldn’t bother me, but she is right about one 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1081 

criticism, because it is one I am making myself. For years I haven’t 
thought of the advantage of my children; in fact, I have even done 
them grave material harm through my Zionist activity. Now, if 
your remedy were, God forbid, good — je suis gentil, quoi? [I am 

nice e hpj and your hopes and mine were fulfilled, I would have 

to listen to reproaches forever. In short, I accept your proposal 
after all. 

But I like clean situations and want you to give me the following 
confirmation in writing: 

1) that you remit to me the amount of 20,000 francs not out of 
your half as the inventor but out of the purely commercial half of 
the financier Mr. Reitlinger of which it represents a one-tenth 
share and which I shall send to you at Paris as soon as you wish. 

2) that you regard me in this matter not as a friend, but as just 
such a backer (on a reduced scale) as Mr. Reitlinger. 

Finally and chiefly, that your offer and my present acceptance 
are null and void if you should succeed in inducing Mr. Reitlinger 
to grant an option to the Jewish Colonial Trust. The substance of 
this option is to be as follows: After a gross yield of 1,200,000 
francs has been achieved, the Jewish Colonial Trust will have the 


right to pay Mr. Reitlinger 1 million francs for his share. You will, 
of course, send the draft of the contract here before you sign it, so 
that Isidor and I may examine it for legal validity. If you manage 
to get this option from Reitlinger, which would be a great windfall 
for the Bank (not so much on account of the profit but because of 
the multiplication of strength” which I explained to you here), I 
shall naturally not participate, because as the president of the 
Council I must not carry on any business transactions with it. 

In that case I would not be reproached with being a heartless 
at er either, because if I didn’t it would be “turpis causa [a dis- 
graceful act],” as the jurists say. 

I hope to hear soon what you have achieved in London. 

With cordial regards, 


Your devoted 
Benjamin. 


1082 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

April 14 

Letter to Count Leopold Auersperg: 

My dear Count Auersperg: 

May I ask another great favor of you? Some time ago I gave you a 
hand-written draft of a contract which they have forgotten to re- 
turn to me. I would be extremely grateful to you if you were kind 
enough to send me this document. 

With deep respect, I remain 

Your very obedient servant, 
Th. H. 


April 14 

Vdmbery acknowledges receipt of the 2,000 francs and writes 
that he is going to Constantinople today or on T uesday. 

Iam writing him: 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

Just a few words, since you may already have left. Should Cohn 
be inclined to withdraw the restrictions that we spoke about, this 
would have to be done cautiously. Otherwise the consequence 
would be a rush* that I wouldn’t want to be responsible for. But I 
will assume the responsibility if the matter is not publicized and 
the choice of those to be admitted is left to me or to my men. 

With best wishes for your trip, 

Your faithful 
Dori 

Have changed my mind. This letter could do harm and only call 

attention to the rush* If it comes to it, I shall have time to tell it to 
the Sultan. 

* * # 


• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1083 

April 15 

The organization of the Bank, which the “experts” have been 
dozing over for the past two years, is occupying me now. Gam zu 
letauvo [May this too be for the good] 1 It was necessary for this time 
to elapse. In the meantime I have learned to administer and to di- 
rect. In Levontin I hope finally to have found the suitable instru- 
ment for the organization of the Bank. I am writing him: 

Dear Mr. Levontin: 

Your news that business is brisker gratifies me. Be sure to exert 
all your acumen and your energy so that we may have the Colonial 
Trust all finished and ready for action by the middle of July, the 
time of the Congress. 

Then I have even bigger things in mind for you than we dis- 
cussed here. You see, I would entrust an even more important post 
to you, one in Russia, if you not only stand the test until July, but 
distinguish yourself. 

It is my plan to create an international credit organization, with 
headquarters in Russia. Here is this plan, in brief outline. 

The “International Credit Bank” (unless such a firm already 
exists) will be founded with a share capital of one million rubles in 
Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Odessa (I should like Odessa best, 
if that place is suitable from a financial-technical point of view). 
The majority of the shares will be taken by the Jewish Colonial 
Trust — that is, for example, 550,000 or 600,000. 

The rest of the capital we shall either leave to financiers whose 
names we need on the board of directors, e.g., Polyakov, Brodsky, 
Poznansky, or we shall put it up for public subscription. 

The International Credit Bank will set up branches in all im- 
portant Russian cities, but also in Berlin, Vienna, Constantinople, 
New York, etc., wherever we have interests and a potential clien- 
tele. The main thing will be the business in foreign currency, 
especially with London where our Colonial Trust will be made 
use of. The safety of credit grants could perhaps be assured every- 


1084 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

where according to (my Dad’s) Columbia System which you have 
studied. 

I would entrust the management of the International Credit 
Bank to you. 

If you have understood me, you will as soon as possible work 
up a complete founding program for me, which I would then 
submit to the Council and the Board of Directors and put through. 

The International Credit Bank ought to come into being as 
early as this autumn. 

Don’t discuss this matter with anyone for the time being, and 
send me word. 

(I am also asking him whether he has a sufficient quantity 
[100,000] of bearer-share forms in stock, in case of sudden mass 
orders; I have Constantinople in mind for this). 

With kindest regards, 


Yours, 

Herzl. 

April 15 

Crespi informs me that the lettre-paquet [letter-package] to 
Vambery contained a decoration for the wife of the editor of the 

Pester Lloyd. 


April 17 

\V rote to Koerber again today (in order to pick up the thread) 
and told him that I would like to see him. He sent me word that 
I should come tomorrow morning. 

* * * 

April 17 

Oskar Marmorek is offended again, because he is not being sent 
into the Allianz. Yesterday, during the meeting of the A.C., he 
wrote me a letter of resignation, and today another one. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1085 

I don’t have enough annoyances and have to deal with personal 
sensibilities on top of that. 

# # * 

Have been to see Koerber today. He had the opening session 
of Parliament today; therefore I only rode a short, sharp attack. 
I told him what I had heard from a contributor to the Neues 
Wiener Tagblatt two days ago; that a middle-class, sharp opposi- 
tion paper was being planned for autumn. Then the N. Ft. Pt. 
too would probably change its attitude, which is now friendly 
to the government, so as not to have the opposition wind taken 
out of its sails. If, therefore, our friends of January still had the 
paper in mind, it would have to be started now, otherwise it 
couldn’t be done at all in the foreseeable future. One doesn’t 
build a sugar refinery either when another one is just going up. 
And it was possible that he would face a rather disagreeable journ- 
alistic situation in the autumn. 

He didn’t say a word, a shadowy figure, but I think that he 
understood me perfectly. Then he told me that I should see Count 
Auersperg, which I declined to do, giving as the reason that Count 
A. hadn’t answered my last letter. I preferred his sending for his 
Ministerial Councillor to my having to ask the latter for any- 
thing. He did immediately instruct the doorman to call the Count, 
and, as I noticed later, this order rushed through the Ministry 
with increasing urgency. 

We then spoke about Archduke Ferdinand’s encounter with 
the Catholic School Association. I permitted myself to call this 
archducal notoriety rather incautious and superfluous. He was 
quite of my opinion. He also agreed with me when I said that this 
affair had obviously been arranged before the opening of Parlia- 
ment, so as to cause him, Koerber, embarrassment in the House of 
Deputies. 

Then I took my leave. When I came into the ante-chamber, the 
servants were already calling out to one another: “Count Auer- 
sperg is to come to His Excellency immediately.” 

Eh bien, nous verrons [All right, we shall see]. 


1086 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

April 22 

The day before yesterday, Saturday, I telephoned to the National 
Casino in Budapest to ask if Vdmtery was there. The servant told 
me he had last been there on Thursday and had said he was going 
to Constantinople. 0 

After this information I wasn’t even sure that he had left at all 

Then, this afternoon, I was called to the telephone at the office 
Dirsztay told me he had just received a letter from Crespi dated 
the 19th (Friday, then) informing him that he had just spoken 
with my bacsi and that things were going well. Vambery was on 
his way to the Sultan, and if I received a telegram, I should im- 
mediately notify Dirsztay who in turn would wire it to Crespi. 
Crespi ’s letter presented my summons as so certain that he already 
recommended the Hotel Luxembourg or the Hotel Khedivial for 
me to stay at, because one was more undisturbed there. But of 
course these are hotels where Crespi has his spies. 

At the same time Dirsztay asked me if I knew for what purpose 
Director Taussig of the Bodenkreditanstalt had gone to Constanti- 
nople. I have no idea; but it is disagreeable in any case, because 
only recently Taussig made a speech against me before the Jewish 
Community and therefore will do me as much harm as he can in 
Constantinople if he has only the slightest opportunity for it. 

My first impression of Dirsztay’s disclosure was favorable, be- 
cause this is how Crespi’s letter presents the situation. But now I 
have figured it out: the situation evidently is not favorable. A 
telegram could have reached us ahead of Crespi’s letter mailed on 
the 19th, that is three days ago, but up to now no telegram has ar- 
rived. I immediately went to Kremenezky to whom the telegram 
was to be addressed — nothing had come. 

Vambery intends to spend only a week in all in Constantinople, 
and three days of that have already passed. This means ice and 
snow on our hopes. And if Taussig gets there with loans in his 
pocket and bad information about me, we shall be frozen stiff. 

The Vambery attempt is the most serious we have made to date; 
therefore its failure would be the most severe diplomatic defeat 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1087 

since October, 1898, when the German Kaiser was forced to blow a 

retreat. . 

The next few days will again have histone value. Aequam me- 
mento rebus in arduis seruare mentem [Remember to keep an un- 
ruffled mind in adverse circumstances] 1 * 


April 24 

The “next few days” had no value whatever. I am not even a 
48-hour prophet. Nothing has come from the Emperor of Turkey, 
and nothing from the Grand Vizier of Austria. 

These are days of which it may be said: I don’t like them. 

A good remedy for it is not to expect anything any more. Car 
rien n’arrive [For nothing happens] etc. 

In this connection it must be stated that it is better for my per- 
sonal well-being if nothing comes from either quarter. My present 
personal situation is quite pleasant; at my well-paid literary post on 
the N. Fr. Pr. I have reasonable peace, respect, lickspittles, flatter- 
ers, etc. 

A trip to Turkey could expose me to serious danger, even mortal 
danger; there is no doubt about that. 

And yet it is a disappointment to me — to which I resign myself 
aequa mente [with an even mind] — that nothing comes. 


April 25 

Now finis has been written to the new paper. Auersperg has re- 
turned my draft of a contract to me. Requiescat [Let it rest]! 

Our life consists of miscarried attempts. 

* # * 

Nothing from Constantinople, nothing from Vdmb£ry. 

* * * 

Yesterday I attended the five o'clock** of Bertha Suttner, in 
honor of d’Estournelles. 

• Translator’s Note: A line from Horace’s Odes, II, 3. 

••In English in the original. 


1088 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

D Estournelles is a pleasant Frenchman who, le plus agreakt 
merit du monde [in the most pleasant way in the worldl makes f, * 
of his own dream of creating a United States of Europe Since he 

f r ' ^ We immed ' atdy ** 3 of 


Among those present was the Italian ambassador, Nigra who 
not only knew me by name, but even confessed— which is a lot for 
these people to having seen me at The Hague two years ago. We 
c atted a parte [apart] from the others; he seemed to prefer me he 
reminisced about Paris at the time of the Empire. Among other 

; !^i He , Said that hC Had been at the meetin S of the Corps legis- 
latif [legislative body] at which Minister Ollivier had declared 
d un coeur leger [light-heartedly] that he was going to war. 
Someone else who was present was Province Marshal Baron 

Gutlenus of Lower Austria. When he arrived, the Suttners said: 
ItsPepi [Joe]!” 

Pepi, a lean, elderly cavalier who looked like an officer and not 
intelligent, greeted me with a friendly smile before he knew my 
name Then he became brusque and cool. So he too knew me- 
namely, from the opposition side. I was no less gruff and cool than 




ishkin, Bemstein-Kohan, etc., whom I invited here for May 

5 o convince them of the necessity of holding the Congress in 

London in July, don’t plan to get here until May , 6 th and don't 

, . t0 „ aV f^ tbe Congress at that time and not in London, but 

y n cto er and somewhere else. These troubles exhaust me. I 

^ complaining bitterly about this to Mandelstamm today. This 

to rip f P ract ical Hovevei Zion spirit which always leads them 

• S ,°™ tbe y are littering their time away with the I.C.A. 

forth r e Palestinian Iab °r question, instead of working 

for the Congress and the Bank. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1089 

May 2 


Today I am forty-one years old. 

Der Wind saust durch die Stoppeln, 

Ich muss meinen Schritt verdoppeln. . . . 

[The wind blows through the stubble, 

I must redouble my pace. . . .] 

It is almost six years since I started this movement which has 
made me old, tired, and poor. 

* # * 

Last Sunday, April 28 , since no news of any sort had come from 
Vimb^ry who according to my calculations must have been al- 
ready departing, I decided to force my luck superstitiously. I 
wanted to be absent when Vdmb&y’s telegraphic summons came. 
Therefore I decided to start the long-due trip to the Salzkammer- 
gut to rent a summer residence on Monday. However, Wolffsohn, 
who was here, advised me first to ask Vamb^ry by telegram whether 
I could absent myself for two days. 

I sent the wire Sunday night. 

Monday morning Kremenezky, the agreed-upon addressee, came 
fairly beaming with joy, since he knew nothing about my inquiry, 
and brought me the following telegram from Pera: 

"Pouvezvous partir? Venez jeudi a Budapest pour me voir [Can 
you get away? Come to Budapest on Thursday to see me]. Schle- 
singer.” 

His misconception that the pouvoir partir [ability to get away] 
meant to Constantinople was soon cleared up. 

However, that same day a second wire came. 

“Empeche de partir. Ne venez pas jeudi a Budapest [Prevented 
from leaving. Don’t come to Budapest Thursday].” 

Therefore I went to Aussee on Tuesday axot^iievos T)Top [trou- 


1090 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

bled at heart], took a summer residence, and returned again yester 
day. The 19 hours of this round-trip were whiled away for me b 
Hess with his Rome and Jerusalem, which I had first started to read 
m 1898 in Jerusalem, but had never been able to finish properly i n 
the pressure and rush of these years. Now I was enraptured and up. 
lifted by him. What an exalted, noble spirit! Everything that we 
have tried is already in his book. The only bothersome thing is his 
Hegelian terminology. Wonderful the Spinozistic-Jewish and na- 
tionalist elements. Since Spinoza Jewry has brought forth no 
greater spirit than this forgotten, faded Moses Hess! 

Fiducit [A toast]!* 

When I got home, I found two letters from Crespi waiting for 
me. 

In the first, dated April 27, he writes, supposedly on instructions 
from VamWry, that the latter was asked by the Sultan not to leave 
until Monday, and that it had already been decided that the Sultan 
would receive me. But this was not to happen until after Vimtery’s 
departure, and as soon as he got to Pest, Vdmtery would give me 
the details of the arrangements. At the same time Crespi inquires 
whether my previous promises regarding an audience still stood. 

In addition to this letter there was another, dated April 29, in 
which Crespi asks who Mr. Mayer is, who is in Constantinople now 
carrying on the Jewish colonization of Palestine and also planning 
to appoint someone Rothschild's representative. 

I don’t know if this is Mayer, the secretary of the London Roth- 
schild, or Mayerson of the I. C. A. . 

At the same time Crespi reports in his second letter that Vdmb&y 
has been detained by the Sultan until the end of this week— that is, 
until today or tomorrow. 

I don t understand the whole thing yet. Why am I to be received 
only after V. s departure when V. was supposed to serve as the 
est interpreter? Is it a case of some Levantine swindle? But what 
kind? After all, I am not giving gratuities for an audience until 
a ter the audience. Naturally I wrote Crespi yesterday that all my 

rfrintin^ 15131 ^ S Note: A Latin term used as a response to a toast at German students’ 
drinking parties, expressing acceptance and loyalty. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1091 
• force Last year I did it mea sponte [of my 
UnXo operate with V. te , I probab.y should 

h Tht^Uon^Coborated somewhat by V/s invitation to 
t0 Pest . Well, we shall soon see whether it is hokum or not, 
as soon as V. is back. That ought to be tomorrow or the day after. 

May 5 

Today I am having a bad day of defaillance [discouragement]. 
From East and West come crisis reports from my lieutenants. 

The Russians are grumbling and don’t want to have such an- 
other trifling London Congress as last year’s. They don’t want to 
go to London in July. A Congress in late autumn at Basel would 
have 80 participants at the most and would be proof of the decline 
of the movement. Without a Congress, however, no shekel, no 
operating funds. 

De Haas also gives a critical picture of the situation in England. 

The Bank is not getting ready. 

In today’s N. Fr. Pr., a despatch from Rome, interpellation in 
the Chamber by de Balzo about the prohibition of Jewish im- 
migration into Palestine. It appears from it that in 1900 the 
Turkish government twice turned to the Powers for prevention 
of Jewish immigration. The Powers gave no answer. 

However, the worst thing today is — the rising of the Turkish 
bonds at the stock exchanges. Apparently the coup [stroke] for 
whose execution Taussig, that cheat, went to Constantinople. And 
1 am powerless! If today I at least had the paper which I lost in 
January through indescribable stupidity! 


May 7 

This morning Kokesch sent me the following wire which had 
arrived last night: 


ppd. Pera. 


1092 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 
Dites Theodore se trouver Budapest demain soir fTell Th. j 

to be in Budapest tomorrow evening]. eoc ^ 0r 

Crespi 

Consequently I am leaving for Pest in the afternoon. 


/ ~ 7 






When I reached VimWry’s apartment yesterday evening he 
had not yet arrived. His wife, his son, and his daugh Tel l a , 
recetved me. The firs, they knew of his imminent Arrival « 

wiremm^fromT" 1 ^ yeS ‘ e . rday momin S’ the afternoon a 
ExpreT ' 535,1,18 he W ° Uld C ° me on the 0d ™ 

According to the time-table we had three hours to wait At the 
station „ grew to four-, he train was an hour late. 

e arrived at ,2:45 a.m. With a volley of oaths this grand old 

with h,W m h StePPed fr0m the train ' The train - shed bounded 

his bans , beCaUSC n ° P ° rter W3S a ‘ hand ' His son and 1 carrW 
nis bags to my carriage. 

wi?r nand daUgh ‘ er ' in ' law took ‘heir leave. He drove along 
with me since we only had these few minutes in which .0 talk 

him nn e turne ^is abuse against the Sultan who had detained 
nim on and on. 

Zinnia k*’ the up S h ot The Sultan will receive met Not as a 
mst, but as Chief of the Jews and an influential journalist. 

s„s„V Ia r ved -'’ v ^ mb ^ r y related, ''he received me with 

invhedT ^ dld y °“ COmc; " 1 told him ‘hat I had been 
o see the King of England; perhaps he had some message 

«o give hum Secondly, I though, i, necessary ,0 improve public 

opinion on his behalf; that is why he ought ,0 receive one of the 

. eSpeCte and * n h ue ntial journalists (myself). Six times he 

arobb™ e C ° mC bef ° rC he yielded - The fellow is plumb crazy and 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1093 

"The latest is that he has confiscated all of the European mail. 
He figures that they won’t go to war against him for that. 

“You mustn’t talk to him about Zionism. That is a phantasma- 
goria. Jerusalem is as holy to these people as Mecca. But Zionism is 

good nevertheless— against Christendom. . , 

“I want the continued existence of Zionism — and that is why 
I have procured the audience for you, because otherwise you 
wouldn’t have been able to face your Congress. You must gain 

time and keep Zionism alive somehow. 

“As long as I was there he simply refused to receive you. It might 
give rise to complications that could turn out to be bothersome 
to him. Ibrahim Bey, the introducteur des ambassadeurs [official 
greeter of ambassadors], will serve as interpreter. 

"I will give you letters to Tahsin Bey, the ist Secretary, who is 
completely devoted to me, and to my trusty Wellisch, a fine Jew. 

“But you must be patient. It may be a week or two before you 
are admitted.” 

When we reached Vamb£ry’s door, we again kissed each other 
several times, and I promised to call on him again the day after 
tomorrow, that is, Thursday evening at eight, so that he may give 
me instructions and letters of recommendation. 

I forgot the most important thing. I asked V. whether the Sultan 
had made any remark about me personally. 

“He doesn’t even know your name,” V. replied. 

But maybe he was only annoyed at me for having helped me into 
the saddle, or jumpy from the trip. 

For how could this square with V.’s earlier statement that the 
“Basel Conferences” had done me harm with the Sultan? Either 
it did me some damage in his eyes, or he doesn’t know mel 

Actually, I am highly satisfied with this result, provided that I 
can have at least an hour’s talk with the Sultan. Then I shall 
promise to cure his ills and inspire his confidence. 

If he should want to sell me Palestine right now, I would 
be extremely embarrassed. 

After all, I must raise the money first. 


1094 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HE Rz L 

Right now I need the bag he will leave me holding Thk k 
I will then fill.* S ' i his bag 

Naturally I didn’t sleep much after that talk in the cab I 

nTX™' y “ RVe °' Cl ° Ck and P ' anned my Pr °^“ 

My first errand after leaving Vimbery was to the telesranh 
office, where 1 wired Wolffsohn that he must be in Vienna tomor- 
row, Thursday, because we were going to Cohn. 

If he doesn’t come, I shall take only Oskar Marmorek along. 


May 8 , in the evening 

I was met at the Staatsbahnhof [State Railroad Terminal! by 
Kokesch and Marmorek. 

I drove into town with Kokesch. On the way I told him every- 
t mg, and he raised the question whether it was all right for us to 
use t e £ 3,000 which the Bank has placed at our disposal to secure 
an audience on such vague prospects. I replied that the A.C. would 
have to make a decision on it this very day, and that I would drop 
the whole matter if there was no unanimous vote. 

When I got to the office, neither Bacher nor Benedikt was there 
any more. I took care of my duties, put my manuscripts in order, 
and continually had the feeling of the “last day”— as though I were 

never again to occupy the shabby little despot’s chair of the 
literary editor. 

I have decided not to ask for a leave of absence, since I have 

awa y an y case, and take my leave by letter. This way I 
s all at least save myself the nervous strain of the last clash. 

n t e evening the gentlemen of the A.C. met at my house which 
ng t now exhibits the awful confusion of moving. We are to 
move into the new place in three days, and I have to go away and 
leave these big little worries to my wife. 

At the A.C. meeting in the attic I made all the arrangements 

turn so^on^dow^UtCTalW "f” idi ° m ''> emandem einen Korb g eben " " t0 

practice of fixing a basket in’th? SOn J eonea basket ” ( hom the ancient German 
K a oasKet on the house of a rejected lover). 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1095 

with the gentlemen which I have been pondering for many months. 

Sealed orders will be deposited with Alex, Cowen, and Kattenel- 
sohn to be opened only upon a telegraphic signal from Kokesch. 
Bemstein-Kohan will be called here from Pans without further 
information. 

A telegraphic code and instructions were drawn up. 


confidence after swearing him to secrecy. 

Wolffsohn wired that he would have a hard time getting away; 
was it absolutely necessary? I would have liked best to answer him 
to stay where he was. But his coming along may be good for 
promoting the Bank, and therefore he must go with me. I once 
more asked him urgently by telegram. 

I then helped to put my dear children to bed. In golden in- 
nocence, untouched by the troubles of moving or the long, hard 
journey ahead of their father, they made their usual bedtime 
jokes and blissfully fell asleep. 

Then I went to see my parents who are also moving now. May 
my old folks never know sorrow in this new home of theirs — only 
happiness and joy. 

I am not telling anyone, of course, that this journey is not 
without danger. I am not so much worried about the plague in 
Constantinople as about putting myself into the power of a half- 
demented Sultan who has just robbed the European post offices. 


* * * 


Letter to Benedikt: 

Dear Friend: 

A month ago, when I discussed my future with you, you advised 
me to take a short trip in order to think about these things at 
leisure and with detachment. This prescription, you said, had 
always worked in your case. It gave one a clearer insight into one- 
self and into situations. I am now taking your friendly advice and 
pan to get away for ten days to two weeks. Naturally you may 
e nitely count on my contribution to the Pentecost number, even 


1096 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

if I shouldn’t send in anything before that. I am enclosing the 
key to my desk. Everything is in the customary order. 

With kindest regards to you and Dr. Bacher, 

Yours very sincerely 
Herzl. 


May 9. 

Awoke before daybreak, thought everything over with refreshed 
senses. 

The main thing, of course, is to arrange to mute the explosive 
echo which the audience will have in Europe if it materializes. 
This is why the sealed orders contain instructions for Nordau to 
see Delcass^, Katzenelsohn to go to Shipyagin, Cowen— Francis 
Montefiore to Earl Lansdowne, and Hechler will be sent to see 
the Grand Duke. Only for Rome I didn’t know what to do. 
Overnight it occurred to me: Gleichen-Russwurm, who has just 
threatened me with a novel and a feuilleton. I am now writing 
him: 

My dear Baron: 

I received your kind letter shortly before my departure. I am 
going to Constantinople for a few days. I don’t recommend that 
you send a manuscript during my absence; it could easily be lost. 
Please send it only after I am back. 

You could now do me a great favor, my dear Baron. I have long 
had the desire to give to His Holiness the Pope and Cardinal 
Rampolla exact information about the Zionist movement which 
they are perhaps not accurately acquainted with and may even 
judge unfavorably. I am convinced that they would bestow their 
favor on the cause if they had detailed information. I would be 
infinitely grateful to you if you were good enough to ask the 
Pope and the Cardinal, with whom you are certainly in touch, 

if I could count on being received in audience as soon as I came 
to Rome. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1097 

Please do not address your kind response to the office, but to my 
private address: Haizingergasse 29, Wahring, Vienna. 

And in any event, the whole thing will remain strictly between 
us, won’t it? 

With the kindest regards, 


Yours very sincerely, 
Th. Herzl. 


* * * 

I shall end this book here, because I cannot take it with me to 
the land of the mail-robber. 

I shall start a new book en route. 

What will it contain? 

On Pentecost it will be six years — no, sixty years — since I en- 
tered the Zionist movement. 




Book Nine 


Begun on 
May 9, 1901 




May 10, 1901 

On the Orient Express, somewhere in Serbia. 

Yesterday I went from Vienna to Pest, alone. My Wolff- 
sohn, well-behaved again, had listened to reason after all and wired 
me that he would arrive in Vienna punctually. So I made the 
final arrangements in the A.C., said good-bye to my parents, wife, 
and children amidst the awful confusion of house-moving, and de- 
parted. My dear children didn’t like the idea, and especially sad 
was our good Trude, whose birthday is on the 20th of May and 
who fears that I may not be here. 

It was only when I was sitting in the train on my way to 
Budapest that the whole fatigue and strain following the nervous 
shock of Schlesinger’s announcement made itself felt. While at 
the N. Fr. Pr. a storm was probably raging over my brusque and 
unauthorized departure and they were perhaps making the de- 
cision to dismiss and replace me, I was traveling Pestward in a 
complete abrutissement [daze]. 

Only my old saying que rien n’arrive, ni comme on le craint, ni 
comme on I’espere must serve as consolation and assuagement. 

I didn’t rouse myself from my stupor until just before Pest. It is 
one of the curious things that I should be passing the same stations 
two days later, like a railroad conductor. There is Bdnhida; to the 
left on the mountain, the magnificent monument: a bronze eagle 
alighting on the Hungarian land with outspread wings. There 
is Kelenfold, from where the electric street car hastens toward the 
city as it did two days ago. The ordinary people continue on their 
dull, sullen, comfortable trot without any presentiment of world 
history. And there is the cemetery with already forgotten graves 
no longer the object of any living piety, and there again it makes no 
difference whether one was a man of the day or of eternity. 

Schlesinger gave me a less friendly reception than usual. He 
seemed to regret the service he had done me. He gave me in- 
structions and a letter for Cohn which was enclosed in an envelope 
addressed to TB. In addition, he gave me Dr. W.’s card, who, he 
said, would accompany me to Yildiz and bring me to TB. W. is 

1101 




1102 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

his confidential agent. However, I should be on ray guard against 
C. and Moi. Je serai partout sur mes gardes [I shall be on my guard 
in every direction] . 

But my telling him that I would of course honor the promise 
I had given Moi aroused a storm. He screamed, cursing and swear- 
ing, that I was being cheated; he had done everything, and those 
people didn’t deserve a thing. I insisted that I would have to honor 
my word like a promissory note, although I had given it but orally 
and without witnesses. He was furious. For three weeks he had 
toiled and slaved, and now others were to reap the fruits. 

I understood, but wanted to keep him coming. His son was 
in the adjoining room. I made the proposal to let the son decide 
whether my sentiment was the right one. The son came in and 
listened to the story with a wry face, for he seemed to understand 
that I wanted to give something only to the Moi-C. group. Perhaps 
the whole thing was only an excuse on my part and I had pose un 
lapin [broken a promise]. 

However, by now I was shrewd enough not to let myself be 
carried away by the prevailing ill humor to make a fresh promise. I 
merely submitted it to Schlesinger’s judgment to decide how I 
was to distribute the 30 . Naturally he would have wanted the 
whole thing for himself, but he didn’t come out with such a 
proposal. With difficulty he conceded that I give TB one-third 
and gave me a card for him. I mustn’t give the others anything. 
His son shared this opinion: no pay-off without production. 

We parted without having reached an agreement. I promised 
to come to him directly from Cohn and give him a report. The 
leave-taking was cool. 

His son and daughter-in-law accompanied me to the restaurant 
and then to the station. While we were listening to gypsy music 
and chatting about futilites [trivia], I thought about what word 
I could send him by his son so as to wipe out the unfavorable 
impression at parting. 

‘What do you think?” I asked, as if I hadn’t been sure that he 
would accept an offer of this kind. “If I gave TB, Schlesinger, and 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1103 
die Moi group one-third each, would that be all right with your 

"Certainly!" said the young man, whereupon I asked him to be 
my advocate with his father. He promised me this. Then we parted 

friends. , 0 , , 

I forgot something interesting in the conversation at Schies- 

inger’s. He said: “You won’t get the Charter now. That will take 
a few years and will cost up to a hundred thousand guilders.” 

“Done!” I replied. “It’s all right if it costs even more.” 

* * * 

On the whole, however, the after-effects of our difference of 
opinion at Schlesinger’s must be good, even though he is annoyed 
that others will get something for his “work. For he sees that 
I am keeping my word and am not breaking any promises. He and 
all interested parties must regard me as miche serieux [a whore- 
chaser], as they say in the J ardin de Paris. 

Wolffsohn and Oscar were already on the Orient Express. An 
evening conversation, then I had a swell night’s rest. In the fresh- 
ness of morning I got my plan ready and drafted the following 
letter to V. 


On the train, May 10 

My good V. bacsi: 

It was very difficult for me to get across to you yesterday, al- 
though we usually communicate so well with each other. Since 
1 know so well that your aid is given from the noblest motives in 
general and from personal friendship for me — which makes me 
very proud — in particular, I was a bit embarrassed about coming 
right out with my intentions. Yesterday I repeatedly put the words 
into your mouth, but you wouldn’t understand me. Fortunately I 
later spoke with your clever and charming son, and he encouraged 
me to present to you what I have in mind. If I make a mistake in 
this, you mustn’t rake me over the coals, bacsikam [my little uncle], 




1104 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER ZL 

but Rustem. But I hope you won’t be angry at him either for ou 
idea is that of approximate justice. The “group” probably doesrA 
deserve anything; but I have pledged my word that after I have 
had a conference with Cohn I will distribute the familiar amount 
I shall redeem my pledge as a matter of honor, even if I have been 
taken in. But I want to do it sensibly. Rustem shares my opinion 
that the following is the right way. I shall give one-third to you 
one-third to the man for whom you have given me your card 
inscribed in Turkish, and one-third to the “group.” If you don’t 
give me your consent, I shall have to give two-thirds to the “group,” 
otherwise I shan’t have kept my word. I hope, my dear, rude bacsi, 
that you will give me the pleasure of accepting. If you do, then send 
me a wire at the Hotel Royal saying “quite right.” And sign it 
with your nom convenu [code name]. 

If you are not willing, then just telegraph me “No.” 
However, I expect you to wire me “quite right,” which certainly 
doesn’t mean that I consider the debt of gratitude of my friend- 
ship as paid off by it. 

You said yesterday that the Charter would cost 100 . Get it 
for me for three hundred, and in addition to my gratitude you 

will have the everlasting gratitude of Kol Israel [the entire Jewish 
people]. 

With cordial regards to your dear family and an embrace for you, 
my good, growling bacsi, I am 


Your devoted 
Dori. 


* * * 

However, it is my plan to give the group the full 2/ 3 after all, and 
B \/$. But I want to raise a fourth third for Schlesinger. 

But I shall ask C. and Moi to give me the list, and I shall have 
Wolffsohn hand the amounts to the individuals. 

I shall demand the list in particular. This way I shall get the 
chiefs. Then it will be up to C. and Moi to persuade the people, 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1105 
„ho evidently don’t know anything yet. to accept and thus incline 
them in our favor. 

# * * 

May 13 , Constantinople. 

Here I am, after five years, sitting in the same Hotel Royal, even 
in the same suite, where I stayed with Newlinski at the beginning 
of the project. I look out the windows, a changed man, and see the 
unchanged Golden Horn. Beauty no longer moves me. For me t e 
world is no longer Representation but Will.* Strange how one s 
whole Weltanschauung involuntarily and unwittingly assumes 
another character when one gets into such an engrenage [chain 
of circumstances] as I have done. 


Dr. Wellisch, a Hungarian Jew who has become a Turkish 
official, is truly useful to us. He came right after our arrival two 
days ago and placed himself entirely at our disposal. 

Afterwards came the Levantine “scissors-grinder Crespi, timid 
and crafty, prepared to be thrown out. But I gave him a friendly 
reception and only asked him to come back the next morning. 

Yesterday morning there came a wire from V : 

“Quite right. Schlesinger.” 

So I have guessed his innermost thoughts. He is accepting. Je 
n’yattendais un peu [I rather thought he would]. 

Then Crespi showed up. First of all I had him give me the 
list of those to be given a share. Naturally I consider his list to 
be de pure fantaisie [made up out of whole cloth]. But let him be 
forced to have them really paid off by Wolffsohn. This way I shall 
really get these influential people. 

At 10:30 in the morning I drove out to Yildiz Kiosk with 
Wellisch. The familiar route on which Newlinski once hood- 
winked me. The army of doormen and loafers. 

Then we entered Tahsin Bey’s quarters and waited in a salon 

n , ;/' ranS ' at0r ' S ^ ote: An allusion to Arthur Schopenhauer's work Die Welt als 

1 e und Vorstellung ( The World as Will and Representation). 



1106 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 

with a pretty view. We sent our cards in to Tahsin Bey. After 
while an attendant came with the information that Tahsin B * 
was too busy now. 

Wellisch sent him the forceful message that I had a letter from 
VdmMry to deliver. In response to this there came an official and 
inquired what my profession was! I gave as an answer: “A writer 
homme de lettres [man of letters].” 

He asked me whether I was the head of the N. Fr. Pr. I told 
Wellisch that I wished to be announced only as a writer, not as a 
representative of the N. Fr. Pr. 

After another few minutes the official came back and invited 
us in to see Tahsin. 

We now went to his office. 

A delicate little man, with a waxen, pallid, immobile face, half- 
closed eyelids, black beard. He got up, gave me his hand, asked me 
to sit down opposite him at his writing desk without a raised rim, 
and said some ceremonious Turkish words of greeting to Wellisch, 
which were translated into German for me and to which I replied 
with similar cold phrases of politeness. I said I was grateful to him 
for the kind reception, was delighted with Constantinople, which 
I wasn’t seeing for the first time— I had been here with the Kaiser 
in 1898— and was completely loyal to the Sultan. Then, after 
replying to a question from Tahsin by saying that I intended to 
stay here for 3—4 days, we took our leave. 

* # # 

Now we are waiting for my summons. Yesterday afternoon an 
excursion to the Sweet Waters. I ruminated on what I should tell 
the Sultan so that the fabulous moment of my desire might not 
go by unused. 


May 14, Constantinople 

Yesterday Wellisch drove to Yildiz in our carriage to see Tahsin 
and brought word that our matter didn’t seem to stand badly. He 
ad been invited to state the highest decoration that I possessed. 


tH E COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1107 

When I mentioned my Commander of the Mejidie, Wellisch 
turned up his nose: he had that one himself. I had also inquired 
whether I was to come in a full-dress suit or in a frock coat. He had 
not been given a decision on this yet. However, Tahsin had invited 
me to attend the selamlik on Friday. Then I would learn whether 
or not I would get to see the Sultan. Apparently the Sultan— pro- 
vided he wants to— wishes to receive me under the powerful im- 
pression of his assembled warriors, as a mighty lord. 

* # * 

In the afternoon we went to the Bazar and to the Church of Saint 
Sofia. Impressive spatial effect of this dome which has weathered 
all tempests of history. In the evening I went alone to see the 
beautiful view from the Taxim Gardens. The view over the 
Bosporus! In these years I have gone through the development 
from “life is a dream”* to “life is a struggle.” Nevertheless, this 
sight made something of old dreams well up in me. 

But I had to think of the more immediate things. That business 
of a decoration with the impending ludicrousness of a 2nd-class 
order came into my mind. At noon I had sent Oskar to Crespi in 
order to arrange a meeting with Nuri in Crespi’s apartment for 
that evening. Nuri declared he definitely couldn’t come now, for 
he was under surveillance. So I went to the Anatolie Han in the 
evening by myself. Wolffsohn, my faithful companion, was and 
still is sick. He was very worried when I went off by myself. I joked: 
if I wasn’t back by morning, they should look for me in Crespi’s 
den. 

Crespi was waiting for me at the Anatolie Han passage. As I 
walked past him I told him that I wished to speak with him at his 
house. He followed me. A shabby house in a dark back alley 
behind the Han. Shabbily furnished, too. In the study of the 
valiant spirit, who put on such aristocratic airs in Vienna, framed 
newspaper illustrations adorned the walls. 

In conversation he proceeded from timidity to boldness, spoke 
of five francs and millions of pounds. He timorously inquired 
Translator’s Note: A reference to the title of Calder6n's play La vida es suefio. 


1108 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

about the bad things that I might have been told about him. Ils’en 
doutait un peu [he could more or less imagine them]. The hotel 
manager had told me that only a few weeks ago Crespi had had his 
face slapped by a swindled Frenchman at the Hotel Royal 
V 4 mb 6 ry had thrown him out, etc. 

I acted as if I knew nothing. I would, of course, redeem my 
promise— although Vdmbthy had told me that the group had done 
nothing, nor could do anything. But I wanted services in future. 
At this he got cocky and showed me a letter from Dirsztay prom- 
ising Crespi a monthly salary of 1,500 francs de ma part [from 
me] if the audience materialized. I said: “Yes, if I were allowed 
to submit the entire plan to the Sultan and he appointed a com- 
mittee.” 

But soon I sensed threats and counter-intrigues in the tramp’s 
words, and quickly came round: “Je ne lesinerai pas avec vous, 
si vendredi je suis content [I won’t be stingy with you if I’m 
satisfied on Friday].” 

I slept on it too: it will be well if I give him this gratuity for the 
first few months until the Congress is over, otherwise he will play 
tricks on me. For the beginning I shall promise him 1000 fr., and 
when the Committee for the Study of Zionism has been appointed, 

1 ,500 fr. per month. 

Incidentally, I managed to stipulate that Nuri will give me a 
receipt for the money, like that time in Vienna. For the time 
being I didn’t mention Tahsin’s “third,” and I also slept on that. 
It will perhaps be worth 10,000 fr. to keep the Nuri people, who 
belong to the Izzet faction, from knowing about the donation to 
Tahsin. Otherwise they could use it against him. All I have to do 
is to get my companions’ consent to this increase in the expenses. 

For the rest, Crespi declared — and this was probably the only 
true word he said that he couldn’t do anything for me prior to 
the audience. Nuri must not even show himself in the matter. He 
couldn t come forward until later. Consequently he couldn’t inter- 
vene for a higher decoration. But why didn’t I refuse the 2nd class. 
Actually, then, I left the coupe-gorge [cut-throat] plundered all 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1109 
over again. But his advice to refuse the 2nd class was also worth 

’Th^oming I asked Wellisch to tell Tahsin that I was no 
friend of decorations. Five years ago they had sent this 3rd class 
one, which I hadn’t asked for either, to my house. I hadn’t refused 
it out of courtesy; but if they wished to give me a decoration now, 
I couldn’t accept less than 1st class without making myself ridicu- 
lous. 

* * * 


Wellisch is useful to us. 


May 15, Constantinople 

An idle day yesterday. Excursion to the Bosporus whose beauty 
finally did stir even my hardened heart. In the evening, in the 
coupe-gorge [squeeze] again at Crespi’s, who tried to have me turn 
blue in the face. I let him tell me his bourdes [fibs]. 

Day and night I ponder the words which I intend to say to the 
Sultan in the moment of my desire. 


May 16 

Today another empty day of expectations. I am considering 
every turn which the conversation with the Sultan might take. 

Details of the day: In the evening we went to the Taxim 
Gardens. Nuri Bey sat there with a European and as I approached 
held his handkerchief in front of his rogue’s face which was 
covered by his red beard and blue glasses anyway. I got the point — 
and didn t see him. However, I recommended to Wolffsohn and 
Marmorek that they take a look at him when we went out, so 
1 at they might know him when the gratuities were passed out. 
Another detail, this one from Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne. 
it Dr. Wellisch, our table companion, we talk de omni re scibili 
[a out everything under the sun]. He is very much interested in fi- 
lial matters. The president of the Colonial Trust, my good 


1110 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 

Daade, betrayed a funny weak spot yesterday. He wasn’t »m 
figure right off how much 4% of 5 billions in French “ 
demnities came to. Wellisch was surprised. 


May 17, Constantinople 

This will perhaps be a big day, perhaps a very small one- 
perhaps no day at all, i.e. I shall not even be received. 

In the latter case I would immediately wire to Vdmbery in such 
a way that they will have to read the telegram here as well. 

At any rate, I didn’t sleep badly — from ten till six. 

Was rather alert in the morning. I thought out my Pentecost 
story or the N. Fr. Pr sunset, a diplomat’s last love, told by 
himself on the Petala stone terrace at Therapia, with the waten 
of the Bosporus at his feet. The Countess in the garden, etc. 

Then I thought about the Sultan. Perhaps he is “the Master" as 
I imagine him. 

While sitting in my hip-bath, in front of a mirror, I rehearsed 
the conference as it may possibly unfold. 

Est ce que Sa Majeste permet que je parle simplement, ouverte- 
mem, serieusement . . . [Will His Majesty permit me to speak 
plainly, frankly, seriously]?” 

Je ne suis pas venu pour de petits services mais pour les grands 
services [I have not come to render small services, but great ones].” 

Les articles des journaux se payent de 50 a 500 louis. Moi, on 
ne peut pas m acheter je me donne [Newspaper articles cost 
50 to 500 louis. As for me, I cannot be bought — I give myself].” 

L histone d Androclus et du lion [The story of Androcles and 
the lion], etc. 

How much of all this shall I be able to get in? 


May 19, Constantinople 

I got everything in. 

I wasn t able to make any entries yesterday, because I was called 
to t e palace in the morning and had to stay there till evening, wait- 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1111 

in g about to the point of exhaustion. After that, writing was out of 
the question, and so my account of this first memorable conversa- 
tion with the Sultan has probably lost its freshness already. 

On Friday morning at ten o’clock, then, after a careful toilet — 
frock coat and Mejidiye rosette — I drove with Wellisch in my 
coupe to Yildiz Kiosk. It was already warm, but nevertheless I sat 
there in my overcoat (which I had had custom-tailored for this very 
purpose two years ago, on the occasion of Newlinski’s last expedi- 
tion, and had taken very good care of since then), and kept the 
windows closed, so as not to get a speck of dust on my suit. Troops 
were marching to the selamlik , sturdy fellows on foot and magni- 
ficent horsemen. 

There are strict rules for keeping certain areas blocked off dur- 
ing the selamlik, but comme par enchantement [as if by magic] all 
barriers opened before me. I was immediately escorted to the First 
Secretary, Tahsin Bey, with whom I found Fuad Pasha. Tahsin 
was more amiable than hitherto and introduced me to Fuad. Next 
I was called to the Grand Master of Ceremonies, R. Ibrahim Bey. A 
suave, smooth gentleman, round-shouldered, and with a full grey- 
streaked beard. Here, too, the most splendid reception. Then I was 
taken to the spectators’ section where I had been with Newlinski 
five years ago. This time there were only a small number of people, 
because lately admission has been granted very sparingly. Even so, 
I didn’t find the prospect of standing there till one o’clock very 
pleasing. 

Again as if par enchantement , my wish to sit down in the shade 
was fulfilled. An adjutant came up to me and asked me to step into 
the ambassadors’ reception-room. There I found the diplomatic 
corps assembled who seemed much more ordinary and stupid at 
dose range than from a distance. Even the women who, as seen 
from the lawn, stood by the windows and looked the pictures of 
elegance, were much less so when I had a closer view of them. The 
time passed quickly for me as I watched that beautiful Osmanli 
opera they call the selamlik. Every Friday the same thing. Troops 
start marching and form walls more impenetrable than stone. The 
court, eunuchs, princesses in closed landaus, pashas, dignitaries, 


1112 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

flunkeys and lackeys de toutes les couleurs [of every sort]. All moves 
past to the accompaniment of music. Over yonder, the Bosporus 
gleams wondrously blue. Then the muezzin calls from the minaret 
and the Padishah drives in his partly closed carriage to the mosque 

Another brief half hour of sitting quietly and amusing myself by 
watching the vacuous, ugly diplomats. 

Then H.M.’s chamberlains entered in order to welcome the 
guests. I was told to wait there for the ist Secretary. Then Ibrahim 
appeared with a large case containing the Grand Cordon for a Rus- 
sian admiral who is here with his escadre [squadron]. The admiral 
turned quite red with joy and vanity, and accepted the congratula- 
tions of the assembled company. I stood in a comer by the window 
and watched quietly. Presently Ibrahim Bey came up to me, too, 
and informed me that the Sultan had conferred upon me the order 
of the Mejidiye, 2nd class. I thanked him most kindly and said I 
didn t want any decoration. The 3rd class had been given me five 
years ago by mistake. At that time I had accepted it only out of 
courtesy, but now I would forgo the honor entirely. The least 1 
could accept was the 1st class. Ibrahim repressed his rage beneath 
great politeness, saying that he would inform the Sultan of this. 

Finally, the whole company withdrew. I remained alone in the 
room, looked over to the floating blue islands and would have pre- 
ferred to remain sitting there. But after five or ten minutes servants 
came. They passed me from one to the other. We walked down 
gravel paths to another kiosk. There I was first taken to Ibrahim 
Bey who, with a beaming face and a happy titter, informed me that 
H.M. had bestowed on me the Grand Cordon of the Mejidiye — as 
in the Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein* 

And another few minutes later I was conducted back through 
the ante-room to the audience chamber, which was located to the 
right of the entrance. 

The Master” stood before me, exactly as I had pictured him: 
short, skinny, with a large hooked nose, a full dyed beard, a small, 
tremulous voice. He wore his grand selamlik uniform, a cloak over 
his tunic, diamond-studded decorations, gloves. He gave me his 

• Translator’s Note: A comic opera by Jacques Offenbach. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1113 

hand and we were seated. Without further ado I sank deeply and 
comfortably into my chair. He sat on a divan, his sword between 
his knees. Ibrahim sat and stood; he kept jumping forward, so as 
to catch H.M.’s words, and translated them for me— and, vice versa, 
my words to him. As he did so he continually beamed with happi- 
ness, smiled blissfully, and reproduced everything in a tone of in- 
finite importance. Whenever the Sultan spoke to Ibrahim I ob- 


French. # 

He began with salaams, and so did I. He said he always read the 

N.Fr.Pr. I am just wondering how he does it, since he doesn’t know 
any German. It was the paper through which he informed himself 
about the Transvaal, China, etc. Next I thanked him for the high 
decoration. Then he spoke of the friendly relations between our 
countries (meaning Turkey and Austria). He rejoiced to hear that 
Emperor Franz Joseph was well, and more of the same. 

But I didn’t want to stay on that subject. I told him (through 
Ibrahim) that I was devoted to him because he was good to the Jews. 
Jews all over the world were grateful for this. I in particular was 
ready to render him any service, naturally not minor ones — there 
were plenty of other people for those — but great services. I empha- 
sized that I didn’t intend to publish anything about our present 
conference. He could speak with me in all confidence. He thanked 
me, took two cigarettes out of a small silver box, gave one to me and 
kept the other for himself. Ibrahim, who was not permitted to 
smoke, lit first his, then mine. 

Then the Sultan said: “I am and always have been a friend of 
the Jews. In fact, I rely only on the Moslems and the Jews. I haven’t 
the same amount of confidence in my other subjects.” 

I thereupon lamented the injustices we experience throughout 
the world, and he said he had always kept his Empire open to Jew- 
ish refugees as a place of refuge. 

At which I said: “When Prof. Vdmb^ry informed me that His 
Majesty would receive me, I had to think of the beautiful old story 
about Androcles and the lion. His Majesty is the lion, perhaps I am 
Androcles, and maybe there is a thorn that has to be pulled out.” 


1114 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERy L 
He acknowledged the compliment with a smile, 
do so ght 1 C ° ntinUe t0 Speak ° penly and P lainI Y ? He begged me to 


The thorn, as I see it, is your dette publique [public debtl If 
that could be removed, Turkey would be able to unfold afresh it 
vitality, in which I have faith.” 


He sighed, and smiled, sighing. Ibrahim translated: Ever since 
the beginning of his glorious reign His Majesty has striven in vain 
to remove this thorn. This thorn was acquired under His Imperial 
Majesty’s exalted predecessors, and it seems impossible to get rid of. 
f I could be of help in this, it would be ever so nice. 

Well then,” I said, ‘‘I believe I can. But the first and funda- 
mental condition is absolute secrecy.” 

The Master raised his eyes to heaven, placed his hand upon his 
breast, and murmured, "Secret, secret]" 

I gave him the reason for my insistence. The Powers who wanted 
Ur _f y " eak wou Id try as hard as they could to prevent its recov- 
eiy They would make every effort to frustrate this operation. He 


I continued and from that point on I took the lead generally in 
e conversation that I would have this operation carried out by 
my friends on all the stock exchanges of Europe, provided I had 
is ajesty s support. However, when the time came, this support 
would have to take the form of some measure particularly friendly 
e J ews> an d it must be proclaimed in an appropriate manner, 
ra im drank in his master’s words with an astonished air and 
trans ated them with a happy face: “His Majesty has a court jewel- 
er, w o is a Jew. He might say to him something favorable about 
t e Jews and instruct him to put it in the papers. He also has a Chief 

abbi for his Jews here, the Hakham Bashi. He could say some- 
thing to him also.” 

This I rejected. It occurred to me that Dr. Marcus once told me 

1 e „ Hakhan ? Bashi s P at at the mention of my name. 

o, I said, that would not serve the purpose. It wouldn’t get 
ut into the world in a way that might be useful to us. I shall per- 
mit myse later to indicate to His Majesty the moment at which we 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1115 

ran use it for our great ends. I should like to put the active sympa- 
thies of Jewry to work for the Turkish Empire. Therefore the proc- 
lamation would have to have an imposing character. Words spoken 
to the Hakham Bashi would only remain in Turkey.’’ 

The Master nodded his agreement to everything I said. I con- 

I tinued: 

“All this beautiful country needs is the industrial skill of our 
people. The Europeans who usually come here enrich themselves 
quickly and then rush off again with their spoils. An entrepreneur 
should certainly make a respectable and honest profit, but after 
that he ought to remain in the country where he has acquired his 
wealth.” 

Again the Master nodded contentedly and said to Ibrahim, who 
repeated it to me, beaming with joy: 

“Unexploited treasures still exist in our country. Only today 
His Majesty received a telegram from Bagdad, saying that oil fields 
have been discovered there, richer than those of the Caucasus.” If I 
remained here long enough, H.M. would ask me to take a look at 
the areas served by the Anatolian railroad. To the right and left of 
the line, the land was like a garden. There were ores, too, and gold 
and silver mines. During the reigns of H.I.M.’s exalted predeces- 
sors the gold had been mined, made into ingots, and then coined; 
this is how the soldiers had been paid. 

I had in fact noticed that during his last speech the Master had 
measured off a length in the air with both hands: evidently these 
were the little bars of gold. 

Then something surprising happened. The Master asked me, via 
Ibrahim, to recommend to him a capable financier who could 
create new resources for the country: for example, taxes that would 
not be too onerous, similar to the match-tax. 

I felt extremely flattered by this display of confidence, but said 
that this involved a great responsibility for me, because, after all, for 
such an assignment I could recommend only a man of whose in- 
tegrity I had just as firm a conviction as I had of his efficiency. But 
said that I would look into the matter and let H.I.M. know as 
soon as I had found the right man. Incidentally, I thought that the 


1116 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

man should only study the financial situation in secrecy and gi 
me his results; on the basis of this information I would then work 
out a program for economic recovery. 

But the Master was of a different opinion. He imparted it to lb 
rahim, who was all ears and then repeated it to me with a blissful 
smile: “His Imperial Majesty thinks it would be fairer if the man 
were given an official position, because that would attract less at- 
tention. He should be attached to the Ministry of Finance— osten- 
sibly as an under secretary — and give you regular reports. The Mas- 
ter can then correspond with you through this confidential agent.” 

I recognized the superior soundness of this idea, and went on to 
ask in what way I could get my letters into H.I.M.’s hands; did 1 
need a special mark or seal for this? 

The Master told me, through Ibrahim, that my own seal would 

suffice. Letters sealed by me would be handed directly to H I M bv 
TahsinBey. ' 1 

Then the Master turned to the pending project of consolidating 
the national debt. I asked what that meant. The Master explained 
it to the \ery intent Ibrahim for my benefit. Consolidation con- 
sisted in contracting a new debt in place of the old one, thereby ef- 
ecting a total saving of one to i i/ 2 million pounds, to meet the 
previous year’s deficit. 

What? So little? I exclaimed with a regretful shrug, and the 

aster also regretted and also shrugged his shoulders, with a sad 
smile. 

I now requested that I be informed about the whole consolida- 
tion project, so that I could judge whether it was advisable to pro- 
ceed with it at all if one had bigger things to be accomplished. Per- 
aps consolidation would be good, perhaps bad. First I would have 

f°ifin° W ent * re P^ an - H.I.M. declared that my wish would be 
u ed. Someone would be instructed to give me all the necessary 
information. 

We then continued our conversation, meandering from subject 
to su ject. I held his interest. In broad outlines I sketched a pro- 
gram or the future, all that could be done in this naturally magni- 
cent city and in the Empire. With a view to getting decorations 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1117 

for them , mentioned my companions Wolffsohn and Marmorek 
wh „ might possibly be available. New sources of revenue could be 

ooened up, for example, a monopoly on electric power 

P H.I.M. informed me, through the delighted Ibrahim, that the 
palace had an electric-light plant and that H.I.M. was pleased wit i 

the light. It was better than the other kind. 

Then I spoke about possible improvements in the city: for in- 
stance a new Stamboul bridge, high enough for the biggest ships 
to pass under (Marmorek’s idea) into the harbor of the Golden 

H°m. 

However, H.I.M. requested me through Ibrahim to drop these 
plans for the time being and to occupy myself first with the removal 
ofth edettepublique. 

By that time I was exhausted; the conversation must have lasted 
over two hours. I had spun the threads the way I had wanted to. I 
was fairly certain now that he would wish to hear further details 
from me. So I let the conversation flag. The Master, too, found 
nothing more to say, and after a brief pause he arose. He gave me 
his hand. However, I stayed a little while longer and recapitulated: 
above all, profound secrecy as to our intentions and understanding. 
The Master repeated: “Secret, secret!” 

Further, I desired a pro-Jewish proclamation at a moment to be 
designated by me (I had the Congress in mind). Finally, I requested 
a detailed presentation of the financial situation and the consolida- 
tion project. All this was promised me. 

Then the Master took a few sideways steps toward the door. Ib- 
rahim and I withdrew — Ibrahim bending low and a reculons [back- 
wards], I with a half-turn and three bows, each of which the Master 




I forgot before that at one time during the conversation I com- 
pletely rose from my seat and bowed — when the Sultan described 
himself as a friend of the Jews and promised them his permanent 
protection if they sought refuge in his lands. 

Then Ibrahim conducted me back again to his salon and handed 
me the red case with the Grand Cordon, exactly like the one which 


1118 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

the Russian admiral Kriger had received during the selamlik 
while ago. 

I left the salon. In the ante-room a lot of baksheesh hands 
stretched out toward me. I passed out gold pieces. My top-coat 
which I had checked with attendants several times, has already 
cost me a fortune. 

When I emerged from the Sultan’s kiosk, who should be waiting 
for me outside? Crespi! It was extremely embarrassing for me to 
have Ibrahim see me in his company. But Crespi was not to be 
brushed aside. He tagged along with me right up to the gate. 

There another scuffle for baksheesh broke loose. A crowd of fel- 
lows pressed about my carriage. I handed out louis as long as my 
supply lasted, and sent Crespi to get Wellisch. But I had hardly 
seated myself in the carriage, and had seen Wellisch coming, when 
someone called me back into the palace. We thought it was Ibra- 
him; but it was Izzet, whom I hadn’t seen in five years. He stood 
among the shrubbery in front of the audience-kiosk, apparendy 
talking to some one. He looked at me with an expectant grin as I 
went past. I was conducted to his office. 

There sat an unknown person, and with him the chamberlain 
who had told me earlier in the day, in the ambassador’s room, to 
wait there for the ist Secretary. What was the meaning of this? 

Again I had to wait awhile. The one good thing about all these 
tortures of waiting is the view of the pink and bluish landscape. At 
last Izzet came, with the evil eyes of a beast of prey and a friendly 
grin. He offered me a cigarette, which I courageously puffed, lit 
one himself, and treated me like a dear old friend. 

“Quand pourrais-je causer avec vous [When could I have a chat 
with you]? I asked, as though this were my most ardent desire. 

Mais tout de suite [Why, right now]!” he said. 

I remarked that I was too tired. The long conversation with the 
Sultan had greatly taxed my strength. I said I would wait upon him 
tomorrow, and then we could chat about everything. 

He continued to probe. "II est question de l unification de le 
dette [It is a matter of consolidating the debt],” he said, as if he al- 


tH E COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1119 
ready knew everything and were only continuing the Sultan’s con- 

' C Hooked past him out the window, with tired eyes. I told him that 
after the mental strain of the audience I was incapable of thinking 
or talking. I asked him kindly to give me a hearing tomorrow (i.e., 
yesterday). We made an appointment for 12 o’clock alia franca 

[western style], and I took my leave. 

Wellisch, who drove with me, was all stirred up about the high 
decoration and the long audience. I was calm, as always in success. 

Wolffsohn and Marmorek were waiting, like Soeur Anne * at the 
look-out of the hotel window. While still at a distance I waved to 
them from the carriage. We embraced. Marmorek, who even in 
normal times is jumpy enough to give a stone nervous fits, was of 
course beside himself. Wolffsohn wanted to hear details. But I had 
already been through enough, even on this journey, from the in- 
cautious remarks of my otherwise dear companions, and therefore 
said: 

“I shall tell you nothing. Not a word. Only when we are sitting in 
the train will you hear something. That will save you the agony of 
keeping a secret.” 

Being good fellows, they submitted, too. 

I had hardly got home when Crespi showed up. He and his part- 
ner in crime Nuri now demand the reward for what Vdmbery has 
accomplished. II faut s’executer [I must comply]. He wanted to go 
to Nuri with me, but I declined his company, saying that we must 
now be careful and henceforth not show ourselves together. Half an 
hour later I drove to Nuri, who of course acted very important, as 
though he had done it all. I left him the illusion. “C’est un art de 
grand seigneur de se laisser voler [One of the arts of a great lord is to 

let himself be robbed]”;** just let him rejoice like a thief — which 
he is. 


Translator’s Note: Sister Anne, in Charles Perraulfs Bluebeard story. Anne’s 
•ser, Bluebeard’s seventh wife, asks her to keep a look-out at the window for the 
^iva of their brothers who are to save her from her husband’s homicidal desires. 
Pni • , r3 e ator ’ s Note: A line from the comedy Le Gendre de M. Poirier (Mr. 
5 on ' ln 'Law), by Emile Augier and Jules Sandeau. 


1120 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I asked him whether my interpreter, the Grand Master of Cere- 
monies Ibrahim, was on his list. 

"No, not he!” replied His Excellency Nuri (I’d like to know who 
is.) Some time I ought to send Ibrahim a fine carriage and a span of 
horses, preferably through Crespi. (The very idea!) I let him give 
me this and other counsels, and acted as though I believed every 
word. However, I asked how much he intended to give Izzet. 

"Between 7,000 and 8,000 francs,” he lied, with a wavering 
glance behind his pince-nez. "Izzet is my closest friend.” 

But when I told him that I had seen Izzet and would see him 
again tomorrow, he earnestly warned me against him. 

"How’s this? But he is your closest friend!” 

"Bah— he is one of my good friends all right. But in the interest 
of our cause you musn’t see him again, otherwise you’ll make an 
enemy of Tahsin.” 

"And how much do you propose to give Tahsin?” I asked inno- 
cently. 

About the same amount, he lied on. "Tahsin is all-powerful. 
But bervare of Izzet. He s a squeezed-out lemon. You may believe 
me, for I am fairly friendly with him. His calling you into his office 
was a trap. He wanted it bruited about all over the palace. He will 
claim that you made disclosures to him about the audience — and 
everything will be ruined.” 


May 20, Constantinople 

Interpolated letter to Tahsin: * 

(I shall enter the happenings of May 18 and 19 en route). 

Your Excellency: 

Before awaiting H.I.M.’s orders here yesterday, I had instructed 
my friend, Mr. Wolffsohn, to deliver to Your Exc. a communica- 
tion which had been forwarded to me by Prof. Vamb. 

Mr. Wolffsohn did not have the honor to be received by Your 
• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1121 
. . (Mr that he had some deplorable misunderstanding 
f ' IX wr ance of the language. Under these circum- 
I must transmit to Y. Exc. the communication from Prof. 
Vamb., whom I am going to visit when I kave here today. 

At the same time I shall ask the prof, to explain to Y. Exc. certa 
incidents of these last few days. 

But I do not want to wait until then to assure Y . Exc. of my deep 
and lasting gratitude. You may at all times and in all circumstances 
counton my absolute and very sincere devotion. The prof, will tell 


you whether I may be believed. 

Assuring Your Exc. of my deepest respect, 


Dr.Th.H. 


May 20, Constantinople 

I have the events of the 1 8th and 1 9th to note down. 

On the morning of the 18th I was just about to write the Sultan 
that I desired another audience, when a letter was handed me from 
Ibrahim Bey who asked me to come to the palace at 10:30. Wolff- 
sohn and Oskar had gone out to get the 40,000 francs from the 
bank. I left word for them that Wolffsohn should wait at the hotel 
until I came back, but that Marmorek should go to Nuri and tell 
him that Wolffsohn had to wait for my return from the palace. 
Only after my return would he come and pay the 50,000 francs. 

I felt a bit uneasy. This is a country of quick changes. Yesterday 
still Grand Cordon du Medjidie, today perhaps foutu [on the scrap 
heap] already. 

So I arrived at Yildiz with anxiety and called on Ibrahim, who 
smiled amiably but gave me a penetrating look. 

We seated ourselves in his office, and he questioned me, with a 
casual air, about things he knew perfectly well. They had wanted, 
as early as yesterday, to send me the invitation to come to the pal- 
ace, but hadn’t been able to locate me. Then it had occurred to 
them to ask my address from the gentleman who had accosted me 


1122 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl 

yesterday outside the audience-kiosk and had walked along with 
me — what was his name, anyway? 

"Crespi,” I said calmly. 

“Oh yes, of course, Crespi. And afterwards you were with Izzet?” 

“Yes sir, he sent for me. I hadn’t seen him in five years and had 
been quite out of touch with him. He wanted to talk with me about 
matters connected with the audience. But I told him that I was too 
tired. I intend to give information only as far as I am authorized 
by His Majesty.” 

Ibrahim nodded his gratified approval. I don’t know to this hour 
whether he belongs to the Tahsin party or to the Izzet party. 

“As a matter of fact, I have sent my excuses to Izzet Bey for being 
unable to keep this noon’s appointment, as I have been com- 
manded to keep myself at His Majesty’s disposal.” 

Ibrahim again was pleased. 

From time to time reports were delivered, and he wrote letters. 
Two of them were addressed to the Sultan, as I inferred from the 
reverence and special care with which he sealed them. Several gos- 
sips dropped in from other offices. At times Turkish was spoken in 
very, very low tones. This, of course, was due to my presence — as 

though they weren’t quite certain that I didn’t understand 
Turkish. 

Noon came. Ibrahim invited me to eat with him. A luncheon 
table had been improvised, army style, in the ante-chamber. In- 
numerable dishes were served up, each one worse and more 
Turkish than the last. 

We were sitting over the second course when the door was 
flung open and in walked Izzet, en maitre [like the owner of the 
place] and with a friendliness that boded ill. He immediately sat 
down with us and started eating greedily. We had gone through 

several courses when another mysterious something made its ap- 
pearance. 

A blue envelope, which Ibrahim handed me: from H.I.M. 

I thanked him with emotion and opened it. It was a stick-pin, a 
token of friendship. A golden-yellow diamond. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1123 

I was the only one drinking wine, the others having water. 

I rose, raised my glass, and drained it to the Master’s health. The 
others drained their water-glasses, standing. 

After our meal, over coffee, Izzet identified himself as the man 
charged with explaining to me the plan for the consolidation of the 
public debt. 

Obviously a thieves’ plan. A syndicate was to supply 30 million 
pounds, with which the debt could be bought up on the stock 
exchanges. Sheer nonsense. I listened calmly, and finally I said that 
I would think it over and then give them my opinion. 

Izzet went off with his wild-animal’s grin; then I asked Ibrahim 
to announce my presence to the Sultan. This had best be done 
through Izzet, said Ibrahim; and from that moment on I was con- 
vinced that he belonged to the Izzet party. Izzet was overtaken 
before he had left the ante-chamber and undertook the assignment, 
although I foresaw a negative result. 

I stayed for a while longer with Ibrahim, who questioned me 
about my position on the N. Fr. Pr. I had repeatedly emphasized 
that I was only the editor of the literary section. But they con- 
sistently treated me as directeur [the editor]. 

His attention attracted by my corrections, he asked me with 
ironic penetration: “II y a done un directeur general [There is a 
managing editor, isn’t there]?” 

“Oui, M. Bacher [Yes, Mr. Bacher]!” And as I said this and 
felt a certain embarrassment about my grand-cordon, the usually 
harmless Ibrahim’s expression became malicious. 

Presently the Sultan’s reply came: he was too busy and regretted 
being unable to see me now. 

The yellow diamond was the only result of the day. 

Later, Nuri called on us at the hotel, accompanied by his lascar 
Crespi. 

Wolffsohn had made difficulties about the receipt, and there 
ensued an angry scene at the writing table when Nuri refused to 
give such a clear acknowledgment. 

When Wolffsohn demanded a receipt on his visiting card, he 


1124 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

rose to his feet with an air of deeply offended innocence. I patched 
things up by letting Nuri sign in any way he wanted to. Then he 
got up, still offended, and refused to accept the thick wad of bank 
notes himself: "Give that to Crespi!” And as he left, he coldly 
extended his hand to Wolffsohn and said to me: “Ce monsieur ne 
fera pas beaucoup d’affaires ici [That gentleman won’t do much 
business around here]!” 

I deferentially showed him to the door. At the staircase he said' 
"Je rendrai ces 40,000 francs a cette banque. Et je compte sur 
vous comme tel [I’ll deliver those 40,000 francs to that bank. And 

I rely on you as a — this]” (at which he gave my wrist the Free- 
masons’ grip). 

“ Vous me connaissez [You know me],” I said, and returned the 
sign in jest. 


May 19, Sunday 

A miserable day. In the morning I had sent Wolffsohn to the 
palace, together with Wellisch. I gave Wolffsohn a note for 
Ibrahim with an enclosed letter to the Sultan, as well as a letter 
containing ten thousand francs for Tahsin. 

They were away until 7 o’clock in the evening. We went through 
great excitement. Oskar s terrific agitation while waiting made me 
terribly nervous as well. In the end I locked myself in my room, in 
order to get away from him, and lay on the bed for hours, thinking. 

The long absence of the two men was really mysterious and 
alarming. Had Tahsin perhaps taken offence at the remittance of 
money and raised a storm? Or what else was it? 

At last they came back. Tahsin had refused to receive them at 
any price and had rebuffed their repeated attempts. They had had 
to wait at Ibrahim s to the point of unconsciousness. 

* * * 

Interpolation of May 21, farewell:* 

* In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1125 

cj r e: 

In taking leave of Your Imperial Majesty I once more place _at 
j to of .he throne this acknowledgment o£ my unalterable 

devotion and of my profound gratitude. 

I shall only remain in Vienna the requisite period of time and 
shalbet out immediately in order to be able to submit the com- 
Dieted project within one month. 

P During my travels it may become necessary for me to put myself 
in immediate and very confidential touch with Y.I.M.’s orders. For 
this reason, Y.I.M. in your exalted wisdom may perhaps deem it 
useful to instruct your ambassadors in Vienna, Paris, Brussels, T ie 
Hague, London, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Rome immediately to 
transmit to Y.I.M., by wire and in code, the communications 
which 1 shall permit myself to make to you, or to have conveyed 
by the Embassy courier the very respectful letters that I shall have 
the honor to address to Y.I.M. 

I humbly beg Y.I.M. to let me know through H.E. the Ambas- 
sador to Vienna if this easy, discreet, and rapid form of correspond- 
ence has met with your exalted approval. 

The coming weeks will be filled with work. May it please God 
that it be useful and serve the glorious reign of Y.I.M. 

With complete devotion, I am Sire, 

Y.I.M.’s very loyal and obedient servant, 
Dr.Th.H. 

To Ibrahim:* 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to submit to you herewith my farewell letter 
to H.I.M. It contains directions for the safety of the reports which 
I am to make. 

At the same time I beg Your Excellency kindly to take note of 
m Y Private address where all communications should be directed. 
It is Haizingergasse 29, Wahring, Vienna. 

* In French in the original. 


1126 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

Begging you to accept the expression of my deepest respect 
my profound gratitude, I remain ‘ nd 

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant 
Th.H. 


* * * 

May 2 1 , on board the “Principessa Maria” 

We have just left the Bosporus, the beauty of which made the 

morning hours short, and only now is this part of my adventure 

happily concluded, an adventure I considered not without its 
dangers. 

^ in L t0 , t ^ le P° wer a despot whom I had every reason to 
regard as half-demented, and whose government, as the debate in 
the Italian Chamber of Deputies showed, had twice during the 
past year demanded the intervention of the Powers against Jewish 

The situation was made hazardous in another direction by the 

tact that I was obliged to introduce myself, at first, not in my real 

universally known capacity as head of the Zionists, but as an 

f i 1 tOT ?. ^ eue F rei e Presse — they turned this into directeur 

p e e ltor ]» ar| d again I endeavored to modify this by adding 
litteraire [literary]. 

As a matter of fact, I remained in constant fear that I would run 
nto some rock and not only be shipwrecked but disgrace myself 
orever. n addition, all that money would have been thrown 
? wou ^ ^ghtly have been held responsible. 

, t ings turned out better than that, but tremendous new 
es an troubles arose. Not the least of them is over my future 
t at o my family, for this will probably cost me my position 
odd jobs ^ T ^ ^ an ^ ^ run t ^ le risk °f having to pursue literary 

Mats c’est un engrenage. Quand ony a mis le doigt, il faut passer 
ou entier [ But it s a cog-wheel; once you’ve put in a finger, you’ve 

got to go all the way in]. F S 7 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1127 

I have seen Yildiz Kiosk as it really is, and have gained one 
particular impression from it which it may not be without interest 
to history to record. 

In this diary I am sometimes forced to distort my fresh impres- 
sions, for I record them right on the spot where a stroke of bad 
luck or a trick of espionage might purloin the book from me as an 
incriminating document. But here and now, on a Rumanian boat 
in the Black Sea, I feel quite free, safe, and at liberty, like that 
time on the “Dundee” after leaving Jaffa. 

For this reason the favorable things which I say here about Sultan 
Abdul Hamid for the benefit of posterity have the full value of 
truthfulness. 

Naturally, neither his red cordon nor his yellow diamond has 
influenced me in the least. Such things leave me completely cold, 
as they would any sensible person. For me they have only political 
value, which I weigh calmly, neither overestimating nor under- 
estimating it. I believe that some capital can be made out of these 
things for the benefit of the movement. This will make us stronger, 
give us more authority, and this authority will in turn enable us 
to make further progress. 

My impression of the Sultan was that he is a weak, cowardly, but 
thoroughly good-natured man. I regard him as neither crafty nor 
cruel, but as a profoundly unhappy prisoner in whose name a 
rapacious, infamous, seedy camarilla perpetrates the vilest abomi- 
nations. 

If I didn’t have the Zionist movement to look after I would now 
go and write an article that would give the poor prisoner his free- 
dom. Abdul Hamid Khan II is a collective name for the most de- 
praved pack of rogues that has ever made a country unsafe and 
unhappy. I never even suspected that such a troupe de malfaiteurs 
[gang of crooks] was possible. The shamelessness of this business 
of tip-taking, which begins at the palace gate and ends only at the 
foot of the throne, is probably not even the worst of it. Everything 
is a business, and every official or functionary is a crook. At least, 
this is what I heard from all sides, and what I have seen of the 
goings-on makes me believe that it is no slander. 


1128 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I can only compare this anonymous band of bums to a tangle of 
venomous snakes. The weakest, sickest, and least noxious snake 
wears a little crown. But this army of snakes has such a peculiar 
structure that it looks as though its crowned head were the one 
that bit and poisoned everything. 

The rabble of Yildiz Kiosk is the real bande de malfaiteurs [band 
of crooks]. They always scatter after committing some infamy 
and since there are always several of them, no one is responsible 
except him, the Master, in whose name the deed was done. 

And to this name attaches all the horror which only a shrewdly 
cruel criminal on the throne could inspire, while in reality the 
criminals surround the throne. 

In my idea for a play. The Master, I had had in mind just such 
a cowardly, unprincipled set of servants, enfeebled and enervated 
by the horrors of slavery, as represented by dependence on modem 
capitalism. The “Master,” however, played by a comedian, was to 
be a stupid, weak, ludicrous figure, so that the absurdity of the lord 
might make the tragedy of dependence appear even more shatter- 
This ridiculous Sultan is almost the embodiment of my con- 
ception, and yet he is not, for I can’t help feeling sorry for him. 
Perhaps I ought to add a new dimension to my idea for a play by 
making the manufacturer, the “Master,” secretly a bankrupt. 

I can still see him before me, this Sultan of the declining robber 
empire. Small, shabby, with his badly dyed beard which is prob- 
ably freshly painted only once a week, for the selamlik. The hooked 
nose of a Punchinello, the long yellow teeth with a big gap on the 
upper right. The fez pulled low over his probably bald head; the 
prominent ears “serving as a pants- protector,” as I used to say 
about such fez-wearers to my friends’ amusement — that is, to keep 
the fez from slipping down onto the pants. The feeble hands in 
white, oversize gloves, and the ill-fitting, coarse, loud-colored cuffs. 
The bleating voice, the constraint in every word, the timidity in 

every glance. And this rulesl Only on the surface, of course, and 
nominally. 

But who is the real blackguard behind the grotesque mask of 
this poor Sultan? 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1129 

Is it the ist Secretary Tahsin Bey? Is it the 2nd Secretary Izzet 
Bey? Is it still others whom I don’t know yet, lurking in the swamps 
and behind the bushes of that glorious Yildiz Kiosk? 

Tahsin is a man of cold impassivity, Izzet is ready to pounce at 

any moment like a tiger. . « 

Probably my best piece of work this time was the way I tamed 

the tiger Izzet. Surely he is ready to tear me to pieces at the first 
opportunity, but for the present he had to slink off snarling and 
craven, with his tail between his legs. 

And this is what happened yesterday: 

May 20, Trudel’s birthday. 

We packed all our trunks and bags the first thing in the morn- 
ing, in order to be able to leave at noon. Oskar Mamorek was 
assigned to get everything ready for our drive to the station, so 
that we could still catch the Orient Express even if we got there 
at the last moment. I wouldn’t let Wellisch accompany me this 
time, for Wolffsohn had told me that on the previous day he had 
fingered and sniffed the letter to Tahsin a bit conspicuously. I took 
Wolffsohn with me to the palace, and he had on him the letter 
with the 10,000 francs to give to Tahsin in case a cir Constance 
favorable [favorable occasion] could be arranged. I wanted to make 
a friend of Tahsin, but didn’t wish to risk an eclat [scandal] or a 
refusal of the money. The occasion would have to be taken accord- 
ingly. 

Ibrahim Bey was already waiting for me when I arrived at the 
palace at 9 o’clock. I left Wolffsohn in the ante-chamber and went 
with Ibrahim into his office. First he gave me a message from the 
Sultan. H.I.M. (an awestruck bow at each mention of this hallowed 
pseudonym) was too busy to receive me at this time, but had asked 
him, Ibrahim, to communicate to him without delay whatever I 
had to say. H.I.M. had immediately read my yesterday’s letter, or 
rather, had a translation of same made by the honest Ibrahim. His 
Most Illustrious Highness had even deigned to take cognizance of 
my missive on his afternoon walk. The great lord was very curious 
to learn my proposals, the more so as the finances at this particular 
time were in an even sadder condition than at any time since the 


1130 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

beginning of his glorious reign. The Sultan had also repeated a 
number of times my saying about the lion’s thorn. Accordingly 
why didn’t I express my views to him, Ibrahim; it would almost 
be as if I submitted them directly to His Supreme Highness, for 

he would immediately write them down and send them over to the 
Sultan. 

So I started right in, and Ibrahim took notes. 

I gave a sort of systematic presentation, calculated for the weak 
brain of H.I.M. the Caliph. My oral outline broke down into two 
parts, which I clearly expounded to poor Ibrahim and had him 
write down in the following manner. 

I. Negative Part. 

a) Izzet’s consolidation plan is impracticable and even to at- 
tempt it would be harmful. 

b) All loans are inadvisable at present, the main reason being 
that in her present situation Turkey could only obtain money on 
the most severely usurious terms — et encore [and then] ! 

II. Positive Part. 

a) Buying up the dette on the stock exchanges should be carried 
out in complete secrecy by a trustworthy syndicate, something that 
under the most favorable circumstances could be accomplished 
within three years. 

b) Meanwhile, immediate requirements must be provided for, 
and, in particular, steps taken to meet the deficit of U/ 2 million 

pounds by October 1 st. 

c) During this time, however, tapping new sources of revenue 
should be studied and implemented. 

III. General Rationale. 

^Ve Jews need a protector in the world, and we would like this 
protector (the aforementioned lion) to regain his full strength. 

ra im wrote and wrote, and made a clean copy of his notes — 
everyt ing on the palm of his hand and on his propped-up knee, 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1131 

Turkish fashion. Meanwhile I asked him to have me announced 
to Tahsin, to whom I wanted to pay a farewell visit. Tahsin again 
sent word that he was busy, and afterwards he was called to H.I.M. 

At i i o’clock Ibrahim had finished, sealed the report with re- 
verential care, and sent it to H.I.M. 

After a short time he was summoned by the Sultan, which I 
could tell from his slipping on his Turkish court-jacket. When he 
returned after a little while, Tahsin Bey was with him, positively 
amiable this time, something I couldn’t immediately account for. 
He squeezed my hand, smiled, regretted he didn’t have more time 
for me, and said with charming certainty that he counted on see- 
ing me again soon in Constantinople. 

Again I had to wait a short while. Time was passing; it was 
already unlikely that I could still catch my train. Suddenly the 
door opened, and who should jump in but the lean and malignant 
panther Izzet. He held in his hand a paper which I recognized im- 
mediately: it was the strictly confidential report which I had 
dictated to Ibrahim and which was intended only for H.I.M. The 
former American Ambassador, Straus, had told me in Vienna 
long ago that H.I.M. was a scoundrel * Was this the “secret, secret ” 
that he had promised me with eyes solemnly upturned? 

Izzet brandished the paper grimly and triumphantly, as if to 
say: “What? You never guessed, did you, you Jewish dog, that 
I would get my hands on your scheme and tear your intrigue to 
bits!” 

He cleared the decks for action. So did I. 

“En quoi, Monsieur, le projet de I’unification de la dette est-il 
nuisible [In what way, sir, is the plan for consolidating the debt 
harmful]?” he asked harshly, and I recognized that my proposal 
had thwarted his thievish designs. 

At first I gave way before his onslaught. I tried to be polite. 

“]e ne dis pas que I’idee n’est pas bonne [I am not saying that 
the idea isn’t good],” I said. 

“Ah, elle est done bonne [Ah, then it is good]?” he said sarcastic- 

* In English in the original. 


1132 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 

the " He imperiOUS ' y tumed "> ^rahim: ■Ecri m 

So Ibrahim was supposed to take down a statement which would 
evidently besubmttted to the Sultan, garnished with lies 
But that “Ecrivez!" and feet's furious glance drew my attention 
to the full extent of the danger. He now intended to ruin me and 
dtscredtt me in the eyes of the Sultan. In a moment I had regain d 
m y fighting spurt, and calmly said to Ibrahim: ° 

-Oui, Excellence, ecrivez! L’idie est bonne el belle, comm il 
serai t beau auss, de voter [Yes, Your Excellency, write! The idea 
IS good and fine, just as it would be fine to voler*] 

in “:r SUdden,y came into Did I mean steal- 

I politely added: 

"De voler dans fair. Mais o’ est impossible dans ces circonstancs. 

toJh m<l T V ° US P ° UrrieZ ’ en tentm ‘ l' impossible vol aerien, 
tomber et vous casser quelque chose, I’idee est nuisible. La tents- 

” ” mra, ‘ d aulre ™ ul «“ We de faire monter le corns des Hires 
torques en Bourse, mais I’ operation est infaisable. Vous ne front,- 

, ^ es trenle millions de livres necessaires pour commencer 

..." Z metric si vous les trouvtez, les cours monteraient par 
ut e e vos achats et 3o millions ne suffiraient plus du tout [Fly 

• e . aiF ‘ Ut under the circumstances this is impossible. And 

i k ° the impossible aerial flight you might fall 

^ S ° ] r “ ethin ^ the idea is harmful. The only result of the 
m r ^ t0 ra * Se Pficc of T urkish bonds on the stock 

. , * Ut °P era tion is impracticable. You will never find 

irty million pounds needed to begin the redemption. And 
you ound them, the price would go up as the result of 

long shot]^ ” aSeS> an< ^ m ^* ons wou ld no longer suffice by a 

«airi txJ 1 6St Ce ? U€ J a * vou ^ u d lre [That isn’t what I meant],” 

i /-Tcf y° gU "’ P° r that is what he had said yesterday, 

i n t make it hard for him to come round. After all, I wanted 

* Translator's Note: Voler means both "to steal" and "to fly." 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1133 

to win him over. And after I had shown him my clenched fist, I 
tried to make him tractable by glances. 

As Ibrahim was present, I couldn’t say anything to him; I could 
only look deep into his eyes and say: With our cooperation every 
financial operation on behalf of H.I.M. will turn out well. With 
our cooperation you will do well, etc. And many other tempting, 
promising sous-entendus [hints], which I accompanied with a 
wink. 

I looked at my watch. We had missed the train. Then I made a 
mistake, maybe a big one, but perhaps not one at all. I went outside 
and handed Wolffsohn the letter for Tahsin which had been pre- 
pared in the hotel, for immediate delivery. In this letter I told him 
that I would send him, through Vdmb&y, the message that he had 
refused to accept from Wolffsohn yesterday. 

When I returned to the office, Ibrahim and Izzet arose according 
to Turkish custom and did not sit down until I had done so. 

The conversation continued. Izzet was more gentle. We talked 
about the ressources a creer [revenues to be created]. H.I.M. was 
offering me the exploitation of five monopolies: mines, oil fields, 
etc. Presumably this meant that we were to raise the money for the 
purpose. They would like to clean us out. I looked friendly and 
dense: that could be done all right. 

Then Izzet blurted out: 

“We need about four million pounds in the near future. We 
have ordered warships, etc. In short, we need something like four 
million. Could you get that for us?” 

“I think it possible. I should have to consult my friends. Every- 
thing would depend on the attitude His Imperial Majesty would 
adopt toward us Jews.” 

“What is your idea,” asked Izzet, “for raising and covering such 
a loan?” 

I still didn’t want to come right out with the Charter, but wanted 
to let them work up to it, and said I would send them word in three 
or four weeks, after I had consulted with my friends. 

It was at this point, I think, that Ismail Hakki Bey, Tahsin s 
confidential dragoman, came in, and with a very unfriendly air 



1134 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

obviously on purpose, because of the presence of Ibrahim and the 
mortal enemy Izzet asked me what kind of message was men 
tioned in my letter. Tahsin requested me to send him the message 
through Ismail Hakki. 

Izzet pricked up his ears, and I saw him give Ibrahim a knowing 
wink. They guessed that money was involved. I couldn’t under- 
stand what was going on. Did Tahsin want to nail my attempted 
bribery? Was he simply asking for money? Since I wasn’t sure about 
the local set-up, but knew in any case that I was in the presence of 
the enemy, I said as nonchalantly as possible that it was something 
Prof. Vambdry had asked me to communicate to him and which 
I would write him before I left. 

Ismail Hakki went out angrily. 

We, however, went on with our conversation, which now reached 
an unexpected climax. 

H.I.M. asked me, through Izzet and Ibrahim, what about the 
citizenship of those Jews who wanted to do business, in one form 
or another, with or inside Turkey. 

“Ils peuvent venir chez nous , les Israelites /’ said Izzet in his 
barbarous French, mats ils doivent accepter la sujetion ottomane. 
Par exemple, si vous rachetez les titres de la dette publique, les 
membres devront etre des sujets de S.M.I. Ainsi de meme ceux qui 
viennent comme colons. Ils devraient non seulement devenir sujets 
turques mats aussi renoncer a leur sujetion anterieure et se faire 
at tester leur sortie de la sujetion par le gouvernment respectif [The 
Israelites can come here, but they must agree to become Ottoman 
subjects. For instance, if you buy back the bonds of the Public 
Debt, the participants will have to become subjects of H.I.M. The 
same thing applies to those who come in as colonists. They must 
not only become Turkish subjects, but must also renounce their 
previous allegiance and must have this renunciation documented 
by the government concerned].” 

"Et faire le service militaire si S.M.I. les appelle sous les drap- 
eaux [And perform military service if His Imperial Majesty calls 
them to the colors],” said Ibrahim. 

Dans ces conditions-la on pourrait recevoir les Israelites de tous 


thE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1135 

les pays chez nous [Under these conditions we could let in the 
Israelites of every land],” said Izzet with the friendliness of a 

^1 thought to myself: “Eine gute Krdnk, [You should live so 
long]!” It would just suit Messieurs Izzet and Company for us to 
bring in poor men and rich men for them to plunder. But that 
wasn’t the moment to raise objections with blackguards from 
whom, at a later date, the Charter will have to be bought section 
by section anyway. 

So I pretended to be delighted at the prospect of coming under 
the old reliable and glorious sceptre of Abdul Hamid, and said 
I was agreeable to entering into details. 

“For another thing, colonization must not take place in masses. 
Instead, let us say, five families here and five there — scattered, 
without connection.” 

“So you can plunder and slay them more easily?” I thought to 
myself and made a friendly face expressing agreement. 

“Even though I wouldn’t have the slightest objection to such 
a dispersion, certain technical and economic difficulties neverthe- 
less militate against it. Last year, as you know, His Imperial Majesty 
was gracious enough to make some land in Anatolia available to 
Rumanian Jewish refugees. With all gratitude for so much gen- 
erosity I still was not in favor of scattered settlements, because the 
economic foundation was lacking. Such haphazard emigration 
must not be encouraged. There is no point to it. What could be 
done, however, is to organize a great land company to which un- 
cultivated territory could be assigned and which could then settle 
people on it. Surely there is land enough in Palestine which could 
be used for such a purpose. If this land company, which would no 
doubt have to be an Ottoman corporation, were given a suitable 
concession, it could make the land arable, settle people, and pay 
taxes. And on the prospective income of this land company, money 
could perhaps be borrowed in advance. You would have a ressource 
[source of revenue] right there.” 

In that inoffensive form I propounded the Charter to the Sul- 



1136 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERa 

tans representatives for the first time, and contented myself with 
their listening to all these suggestions. 

It will be time enough to elaborate on the matter in the suh. 
sequent negotiations, and gold will serve to sweep away all Z 
misgivings of doughty Izzet and his likes. 

Izzet disappeared, ostensibly in order to inform H.I.M. of 
everything I had said. After a while he returned with a farewell 

momh g fr ° m Wh ° expects m y defin ite proposals within a 

Thus we have actually entered upon negotiations for the 
Charter. All it takes now to carry out everything that I have de- 
signed is luck, skill, and money. 

At the present stage, I am giving the grant of a Charter more 
the character of a favor rendered to us in order to awaken our 
sympathies for the Turkish Empire. 

Et nous verrons apres [And after that we shall see] I 
These were the noteworthy incidents of May 20, 1901, the ninth 
birthday of my daughter Trudel. 

So far there is not much that is tangible in these results, and yet 
I already see in them the embryo of the whole. 


May 24, Vienna 

Returned home yesterday evening. There has only been a trickle 
o news om Constantinople. The N. Fr. Pr. has been silent, of 
course, y Dad told me that the fellows had sent someone to my 
louse to get my address. My Dad went to the office last Saturday 
s P°ke with Benedikt, also showed him my telegram saying: 
I rip most satisfactory, homeward bound Monday.” Benedikt 
? ai ' s terrific. But they definitely counted on my supply- 

ing that essay promised for the Pentecost number. 

I am now writing to Benedikt: 

Dear Friend: 

returned home last night. I am planning to write the Pentecost 
jeuilleton. It is a simple love story entitled “Sunset.” Since I assume 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1137 

that you want it for the main section and not the supplement, I 
shall turn in the manuscript tomorrow evening. 

I suggest that you run the enclosed item among the despatches. 
Of course, I need have no fear that the matter will be taken up 
further in the paper, but by way of precaution I would recom- 
mend awaiting my oral information. 

With kindest regards, 


Sincerely yours, 
Herzl. 


Enclosure. (Despatch): 

Constantinople (Special). The Sultan has bestowed the Grand 
Cordon of the Mejidiye Order on Dr. Theodor Herzl of Vienna, 
whom he had received in a two-hour audience last Friday after 
the selamlik. 

* * * 

Addendum: The letter which I addressed to the Sultan on 
Sunday, May 19th:* 

Sire: 

The gracious welcome with which Y.I.M. has deigned to honor 
me has gone straight to my heart, and I beg Y.I.M. to count me 
among his most devoted servants. 

It is for this same reason that I request the honor of being 
received again before my departure which must be effected tomor- 
row, Monday, on the Orient Express, because my duties recall me 
to Vienna. 

The information which H.E. Izzet Bey was good enough to 
give me on orders from Y.I.M. has sufficiently enlightened me on 
the project in question, and from now on I shall be able to express 
my humble opinion if Y.I.M. does me the signal honor I am 
requesting. It would be most useful if this could be done orally. 

* Translator’s Note: At this point the original manuscript contains the rough 
draft of the letter to the Sultan, in French. 


1138 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I have another scheme to submit in the profoundest secrecy to 
the lofty wisdom of Y.I.M., 

[Instruction to Embassy: 

I shall have another, 
final talk with Izzet]* 

and this very day, because Y.I.M. may wish to go into the details 
and the explanations might take some hours. 

The hour may have come in which the lion will be relieved of 
his thorn. God the Almighty, who is above us, willing, Turkey 
has arrived at a turning point in its history, and the glorious reign 
of Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan II, so beloved by his Moslem and 
Jewish subjects whom he makes happy, will cover it with new 
splendor. I am very moved as I direct these words from a sincere 
heart to the august person of Your I.M. 

I have the honor to be, Sire, Your I.M.’s very faithful and 
obedient servant, 


Dr.Th.H. 

Whit-Monday, May 27, Vienna 

Yesterday or today it is six years since I visited Baron Hirsch 
and, following his refusal, decided to create the Jewish State on 
my own. 

What travels, what travails! 


May 27, in Vienna 

I am writing to Benedikt in order to avoid seeing him and letting 
him get me excited, because I definitely have to leave tomorrow: 

May 28, 1901 

Dear Friend: 

It is better if I write you than if I talk with you about it. A few 
weeks ago you told me that such altercations get you a bit excited, 
• In German in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1139 

and that certainly isn’t necessary. At that time I explained to you 
that I don’t feel quite happy in my position with the N. Fr. Pr., 
because I am more dependent than is in keeping with my tempera- 
ment. No matter how amiable and amicable you and Dr. Bacher 
may always have been toward me, still, I didn’t feel the way I would 


have wanted to. 

The “editorship” of the feuilletons and of the literary section of 
the N. Fr. Pr. cannot satisfy me. 

Now I have searched my mind and am making you a proposition. 
The reason for my dissatisfaction and nervousness is the above- 
mentioned “editorship” of the literary section, etc. This is a cob- 
web and a suit of mail. I am superfluous there, and yet tied down. 
If at any time I want to get away for a week or two, it is a whole 
project. To the extent that it isn’t mere pen-pusher’s work, Dr. 
Ganz, for instance, could and would easily take care of it. That 
you don’t give the literary editor his independence I understand 
perfectly; a newspaper can be run only by a central will. Anyone 
can draft a telegram to Dreyer or Brieux. 

If I may be so immodest as to speak of the small value which I 
may have to the AT. Fr. Pr., it can be only that of my articles. But 
I can also write them the way Wittmann does, that is, without 
working at the office. If I am in Vienna, I can come to the office 
every day, to hear what is going on, to keep in touch, and you com- 
mission a feuilleton. When I am in the country, the same thing can 
be done by telephone or telegraph. If, finally, it should happen 
that I take a trip for a week or two, I can send a feuilleton a week, 
as I have been in the habit of doing from Paris or London in the 
last few years. This expresses the essence of my relationship to the 
N- Fr. Pr. Naturally, I could imagine this form of relationship to 
the paper only under the condition that my emolument remain the 


same. The fact that part of my income is put down for the ‘‘editor- 
ship you called only a matter of bookkeeping at the time, and 
I have never regarded it as anything different. 

May I request you to address your kind reply to my father, Mr. 
Jacob Herzl. He will forward it to me, for I should like to take 
another trip of a few weeks; naturally, this will exhaust my vaca- 


1140 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 

tion Then, from the end of June on, you can count on mv 

feuilletons each week even during the saison morle [dead season! 
if you so desire. 

With the kindest regards, 

Very sincerely yours 
Th. Herzl. 

* # # 

ToCrespi, May 28, 1901, Vienna:* 

Dear Sir: 

I am leaving today for several weeks, and this is why I am sending 
you the enclosed check for a thousand francs, covering the month 
of June, before June 1st. 

Please address your letters to me in a double envelope to Dr. 
O. Kokesch, T uchlauben iy, Vienna I. 

Expecting your useful information and begging you to convey 
my kindest regards to our eminent friend, I am 

Cordially yours, 
Herzl. 


May 28, Vienna. 

To Ibrahim Bey: * 

Your Excellency: 

Permit me to send you a little souvenir of the fine hours during 
which I had the honor and the pleasure of meeting with you in 

your devotion to H.I.M. It is a snuff-box, which I am sending by 
mail. 

The kettle plates have been ordered and will be sent to you 
next week. 


• In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1141 

By doing me the honor of accepting these trifles you will give 
me evidence of your good will which I value so highly. 

I am setting out today with the purpose you know about. 

With the expression of my profound respect and gratitude, 


Faithfully yours, 
Th. Herzl. 


May 29, on the express train to Franzensfeste, 

to see Vdmb^ry 

Yesterday there was quite an uproar before my departure, until 
I finally landed at the Siidbahnhof [Southern Railroad Station] 
four minutes before the express train left and was just able to have 
my suitcase thrown into the baggage car, but didn’t have time to 
register it. 

In the morning I went to see Dirsztay, who read me vilifying and 
threatening letters from that blackguard Crespi. This Dirsztay 
seems to be a Jew as dirty as he is rich, of the apikorsim [free-think- 
ing] kind. For he evidently has Crespi do him favors in return for 
promising this Levantine scamp to put in a good word for him with 
me. For this intercession he probably wants some decoration, unless 
he even uses it for speculation — he, who gets an annual stipend of 
hundreds of thousands of guilders from his father-in-law. 

Of course, I acted as though I didn’t think ill of him, but asked 
him to write his friend Crespi that he shouldn’t dare to write me 
in an insolent tone, for otherwise I would immediately and with- 
out further ado break off relations with him. Naturally I wouldn t 
be taken in by Crespi’s lie that he hadn’t got anything of the 
30,000 francs. I hadn’t even checked on whether I was being 
cheated or not. But they shouldn’t take me for an idiot, even if I 
acted generously. Dirsztay obsequiously promised me to write 
quite in accordance with my wishes. 

Then I drove to see Ambassador Mahmud Nedim Bey, who 
greeted me with the words “Congratulations, effendi! 


1142 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

And immediately he was off and told me all his worries and 
stupidities. That a diplomat?! What am I, then? 

He grumbled about all his secretaries, who were spying on him 
slandering him, and not doing any work. Nothing but liars, block- 
heads, and blackguards. The First Secretary of the Embassy, he 
said, was writing reports to Constantinople in which he, the ambas- 
sador, was presented as a drunkard who staggered about plastered 
all day et ne peut tenir sur ses quatre pieds [and can’t keep on his 
four feet]. On my four feet! said the jackass. And to make it even 
more graphic for me, he got up and with a serious expression per- 
formed the actions of a souse, babbling and reeling about. This 
solo comedy-act took about half a minute. If I had hitherto been 
able to take his inanities for a shrewd pretense at simple-minded- 
ness— it was that improbable that an ambassador could really be 
so stupid after his ridiculous behavior there could no longer be 
any doubt that he really was an ass. 

Then he vilified the Second Secretary, who, he said, came from 
his mistress at 9:30 the morning, smoked a few cigarettes, and 
left again at 1 1, with which his work was done. Then he berated 
the embassy councillor whom they had assigned to him, an ignor- 
ant Egyptian who couldn’t read or write, and the husband of a 
Mohammedan woman who attended evening parties in low-cut 
dresses. She is the Khedive’s sister, and had wanted him to in- 
troduce her to the Emperor. But her brother had flatly refused her 
this, because it ran counter to Mohammedan custom. And the 
way he tried to illustrate all this for me by examples from Judaism: 
it was as if I wanted to serve pork to a Rabbi on Saturday, or offer 
him a cigar. 

Then he complained about conditions in Turkey — the misman- 
agement, the rascalities. They still owed him £4,500 in back pay, 
and he had to pay 1 0% of his salary to usurers. Je fis la sourde oreille 
[I turned a deaf ear]. If he should ever be able to be of use, I shall 
get him the loan at 4 or 5%. 

He also spoke critically of Izzet whom he called le mauvais genie 
[the evil genius]. He had already fallen from favor once, it was 
true, but the Sultan could not part with this sharer of secrets. If 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1143 

he should disappear, however, the Sultan would surely offer (our 
landles " dans une dglise non catholique [in a non-Catholic 

‘ Tduin, he said, was somewhat better. But Mahmud Nedim 
can’t forgive him for his failure to have the £ 4 - 5 °° arr teres [arrears] 
D aid to him, although the Sultan had already issued two trades to 
this effect. The secretaries Tahsin and Izzet did whatever they 
wanted But Tahsin was the more loyal one, and even though, for 
example, he seemed to be the creature of Maximow, the Russian, 
this was surely happening with the Sultan’s knowledge and ap- 

P Mahmud Nedim was visibly impressed when I told him about 
my long audience with the Sultan. I said that I had to keep silent 
about its contents, but I was authorized to transmit my letters to 
the Sultan directly through Ibrahim. In reply to my request to send 
my letter through the courrier de V ambassade [diplomatic pouch] 
he told me that they had no such institution. Every ambassador, he 
said, sends his letter by ordinary mail! But he did place his code 
key to Tahsin at my disposal, and we arranged that he would sign 
his letters and telegrams to me “Dym.” I shall sign mine to him 
“old man.” 

Dirsztay had told me that permission to wear my Grand Cordon 
would be granted by the Austrian government only upon the 
request of the Turkish ambassador. This seemed improbable to 
me, because surely an ambassador cannot do anything but what 
his master wishes — in one of his stupid remarks Mahmud Nedim 
had represented himself as the former’s “executeur testamentaire 
[executor of his testament] — but I requested him to do it anyway. 
He refused, perhaps out of innate malevolence, but perhaps be- 
cause he really is unable to. Je n’insistais point [I didn’t insist at all] 
and said I would take it up with Koerber as soon as the decree 
arrived. 

Then we parted friends. 


1144 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZ L 

In (he afternoon the A.C. met at my home, and I gave imtnv 
tions for the period of my absence. 

* * * 

I shall write Nuri from Paris that he shouldn’t let Crespi bother 
nic« 


. May 29, evening 

On the train, between Innsbruck and Munich. 

VdmMry entered my compartment at Muhlbach, we rode to 
Franzensfeste, and over lunch at the local inn I gave him my repon. 
He thought what I had achieved tremendous. I for my part told 
im that he had accomplished a great deal more than he had 

promised me. To this he replied: “You are a noble person for not 
minimizing this now.” 

He thinks that we shall have the Charter this very year. He plans 

to go to Constantinople again in September. Meanwhile he would 

e me to make a draft of the Charter which he intends to present 

v*- 1 - C ^ u ^ tan an< ^ § et signed by him without any Secretary or 
M mister finding out about it. 

hi^° r ^ P rom ^ se< ^ 3 00 »ooo guilders and a eulogy in world 
He showed himself receptive to both. 

I also asked him to get Wolffsohn and Oskar Marmorek one 
order second class each. 

Moreover, he should write Tahsin that I was his friend, and to 
t e u tan, that I am now traveling to various courts in order to 
* S P e 1 e concern t ^ iat my appearance in Constantinople on behalf 
ot Palestine may have given rise to. Also, that I was going to render 

t e u tan journalistic assistance once I had straightened out his 
finances for him. 


May 31, morning, on the Orient Express, outside Paris 
Yesterday, then, I visited the good Grand Duke. This time the 
lence did not take place without difficulty. The train which 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1145 

I took there from Munich was more than an hour late, because 
earlier a train had been derailed at a Bavarian station. I arrived at 
Karlsruhe at four instead of three. At the hotel I was told that the 
Grand Duke had expected me two days ago and had twice sent 
messengers there. Yesterday at three, too, a court lackey had been 
there to tell me to come to the palace the minute I arrived from 
the station. However, the train had been sectioned in Wurttem- 
berg, because they had not been able to straighten out the Bavarian 
delay, and one section of the train had arrived in Karlsruhe at 
three; when I wasn’t on it, the Grand Duke probably thought I 
wasn’t coming at all, although I had sent him a telegram from 
Munich. 

When I had them telephone the palace right after my arrival 
to say that I was here, the answer was “the Grand Duke has no more 
time today” for me. 

In giving me this message, the hotel clerk, who had treated me 
submissively, made the face expressing ironic regret which one 
shows to courtiers who have fallen from favor. 

But his saying that the Grand Duke had probably gone to 
Baden-Baden was worse. Then the chances for an audience were 
dim. I already resigned myself to the idea of losing a day in Karls- 
ruhe. But I personally telephoned the palace to say that I was 
expecting H.R.M.’s orders. 

I was now at liberty to be bored stiff for two hours and meditate 
about the difficulties of dealing with princes.* 

But at half-past six a telephone message came from the palace, 
saying that the Grand Duke was expecting me at 8 o’clock. I was 
to wear my overcoat. Not evening dress,** then. 

I had them harness the hotel carriage for me, packed my suitcase 
in such a way that I could depart at the last moment even if the 
audience should take a long time, and made a careful toilet. Frock 
coat, but without the Mejidiye rosette. I didn’t want to appear to 

•Translator’s Note: Herzl’s phrase is iiber das Kirschenessen mit Fiirsten, based 
on the idiom mit ihm ist nicht gut Kirschen essen, “beware of eating cherries with 
* s k ar< * to g et along with. 

** In English in the original. 


1146 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

be fishing for decorations* At this particular time a German 
decoration would be a great impediment to me. At five minutes 
to eight I drove up to the palace courtyard in style. The Guards 

almost presented arms. When I didn’t return the half-salute the 
soldiers smiled. 

At the gate ramp the lackeys helped me out of the carriage like 
an old acquaintance. And so I stood once again in the flag\oom 
with the war pictures. Waiting among these flags and pictures is 
another recurring chapter in the novel of my life. 

I had thought that the invitation for 8 o’clock meant a dinner 
invitation and had not eaten. I hadn’t had anything since 1 1 o’clock 
that morning. But one should always eat before going to see 

princes; for they don’t know that ordinary mortals have stomachs 
too. 

At 8 o’clock the changing of the guard took place. The young 
fellows marched across the palace yard at a goose-step. Then I had 
no diversion until half-past eight and stood till I was fit to drop. 

Finally, at half-past eight, the Grand Duke opened the door to 
the red salon, so familiar to me by now, and gave me a very friendly 
greeting. We seated ourselves in the red salon in armchairs, and he 
egan by saying that he had already learned the gratifying news 
from the Welt, which he read regularly, and from Hechler. Hadn’t 
he always told me that I must try to get to the Sultan directly? 
Parbleu [My heaven]! I thought to myself. 

He himself and the Kaiser must not dare to come out in behalf 
o our cause, out of consideration for the German Jews, for people 
might interpret it to mean that they wanted to be rid of their 
Jews. Caution was required on account of the anti-Semites as well, 
or t ey could support the movement in a compromising manner: 
ut with the Jews! Anti-Semitism was altogether a dangerous and 
detestable movement which ought to be opposed everywhere. 

Tres bien. mais f a ne faisait pas du tout mon affaire [Very well! 
but that didn’t serve my purpose at all]. 

I said. I too believe that at present the German government 
cannot stand up for the Zionist movement in a tangible way, but 
# In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1147 

for a different reason. It will be possible, when the time comes, to 
make the German Jews understand that precisely as German 
patriots they can and should support our cause, even if they do 
not emigrate. For there are German interests in Asia Minor which 
would undoubtedly be served by it. The Jews all over the world 
are an element of German culture, which was shown conclusively 
by the language in which our Congresses were conducted. I can 
see another reason for the German government’s reserve: namely, 
for Germany to set itself up as the patron of the Zionist movement 
would arouse the utmost distrust and jealousy of the other Powers. 

I understood this so well that I didn’t bat an eye-lash when the 
protectorate promised in 1898 didn’t materialize. And yet that was 
a frightful blow to me. Many who had already joined us dropped 
off when the magnificently staged reception in Jerusalem didn’t 
lead to anything.” 

"I hope these weren’t the most influential elements,” said the 
Grand Duke regretfully. 

“It took a great deal of steadfastness on my part to survive this 
blow. But I told myself that the only way in which I could show 
myself worthy of the trust placed in me would be to keep silent. 
People said that all the assertions about German good will were 
a fraud. I kept silent about that and let them snipe at me. It was 
part of the adverse reaction that the funds for publicity became 
scarce. On this occasion I should also like to rectify something that 
our good Mr. Hechler has done. He asked Your Royal Highness 
to donate money for the Zionist Bank. This happened without my 
knowledge and intention. He meant well. But it would be terribly 
painful to me if Your Royal Highness could believe for even a 
second that I was interested in anything but moral support.” 

He smiled amiably, every inch a king, and said: 

“On this occasion, too, you are displaying the delicacy of feeling 
that you have shown from the beginning.” 

I said: “When I arrived in the city of the Sultan, my first impulse 
'vastosend word, through Hechler, to Your Royal Highness as the 
first patron of our cause.” 


1148 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

He replied modestly: “ 'Patron' is saying too much. Let u s 
helper! 

After that I reported in brief and non-commital outline about 
what I had accomplished at Constantinople. I said that I hadn’t 
got beyond the initial steps. In general, negotiations were only in 
an embryonic stage, and therefore I trembled greatly for this 

embryo. My particular worry was Russia which might interfere 
twixt the cup and the lip. 

“Russia,” said the Grand Duke, “is otherwise occupied. The 
Far Eastern difficulties are greater than was thought. There Russia 
as territorial complexes to defend which aren’t easy to hold. Most 
o all, the popular principle of uniformity of language and faith 
cannot be put into effect there. In the Balkan peninsula, too 
Russia has worries enough. It could happen that a crisis over the 
Serbian succession will lead to an enlargement of Montenegro. In 
any case, there are no interests in Palestine comparable to these 
which would be of major importance to Russia, with the exception 

o t le religious ones. But surely you will take care not to infringe 
upon these?” 

Of course! I said. Jerusalem will remain extra commercium 
[untouched by business].” 

Incidentally, the present conditions there are rather a disgrace 
t e hristian creeds, said the Grand Duke. “But there is respect 
,? r e ■^ ur ^ s > otherwise there would constantly be the greatest 
isor er- At any rate, a further expansion of the influence of the 

ee lurch would be neither possible nor desirable. But what 
do you want from Russia?” 

“Nothing. Just an audience with the Czar.” 

That young gentleman,” said the Grand Duke, “despite all his 

h aS ^ VCr ^ * ntroverte d> reserved nature. He certainly cannot 
ncc to make a decision. You would have to turn to other 
persons o his circle: Grand Duke Constantine, whom he has just 

J 113 k ^ m ?f Ct0r ° f Mi,itai T Training, or to Minister Witte, to 
s o , or to the new Minister of Education. Grand Duke 
antine seems to be a person of importance. He proceeds on 
ssumption that in an army spirit is more than numbers. That 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1149 

was our good fortune in 1870. It was the spirit that fought our 
battles, even though we faced a ten-fold superiority. Constantine’s 
wife, a German princess (I think he said the Princess of Anhalt), 
was in Baden recently; she was the one who told me these things. 
It will show you what kind of woman she is if I tell you that she 
has remained a German and a Protestant in Russia. Through her 
I could get the Grand Duke interested in your cause and in you 
and get him to receive you.” 

"Perhaps it could also be done via Denmark?” 

“Through the Emperor’s mother? I don’t think so. It will be 
hard to get the Czar anyway.” 

"I want nothing from him but an hour’s conversation — a sym- 
bolic act of benevolence. As far as I am concerned, he can let me 
tell him something about the theatre in Paris. I need this conver- 
sation so that the Sultan in his timidity won’t be afraid that he 
will provoke Russia against him if he has dealings with us. I don t 
want any help from Russia — on the contrary! For then we would 
get under its terrible thumb. Nor do I want a decision from the 
Czar. Rather, I shall be very glad if, after hearing me, he is just 
bored and dismisses the matter as uninteresting. My only desire in 
this is to reassure the Sultan.” 

"The Sultan is stronger than he thinks. You could and should 
draw his attention to this — now that you are a Knight of his 
Mejidiye Order!” he said teasingly. But he added: “This deco- 
ration has really caused a stir — the highest that he confers. That 
has given many people food for thought.” 

We spoke about many other things of no major importance. But 
I think he liked the idea that I didn’t want any binding aid from 
Russia, and he offered to write to Grand Duke Constantine and 
recommend that he receive me. He promised me a prompt answer, 
because I told him that I didn’t want to make the Sultan any 
proposals before I had assured myself of Russia’s neutrality. 

But he regarded the fact that the Sultan had permitted me to 
make propositions to him as an enormous success. 

It was ten. I gave him to understand that my train was leaving 


1150 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

soon, and he dismissed me, amiably and charmingly as always 
assuring me of his continuing favor. 

He is the noblest person I know — cultivated, great-hearted, and 
helpful. There have been times when I considered him intellec- 
tually insignificant, but yesterday he was altogether independent 
and sagacious in his political remarks. 


May 31, Paris 

Immediately after my arrival I telephoned Reitlinger and asked 
him to come to see me. I told him everything and requested him 
to let me know by tomorrow whether he could raise at least £ n/ 2 
million for the Charter; I told him that I wanted to try the I.C.A., 
to be sure, but was under no illusions about the envy and jealousy 
of those people. 


June 1, Paris 

Yesterday, following an hour-and-a-half’s conversation with 
Reitlinger whom I tried to entice a little as a Zionist and a lot as a 
businessman, I went to see Alex Marmorek at the Taverne Royale. 
Alex was very pleased about the success in Constantinople. How- 
ever, he said that the Russian Hovevei Zion, who are at the same 
time members of the A.C., had received the news very coolly. As a 
matter of fact, Kokesch had already told me in Vienna that Tschle- 
now, Ussishkin, Bernstein-Kohan, and Barbasch had reproached 
us for having drawn upon Bank funds for such a purpose, though it 
was only a loan and on our personal responsibility. 

They were against the Congress because we had nothing to 
offer, and they don’t consider the negotiations with the Sultan 
worth all that money. 

And this at the very time when their humiliating visits of 
supplication to the I.C.A. and to Baron Edmond Rothschild have 
netted them the most disgraceful of rebuffs. 

These are the “helpers” I have to work with. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1151 

Once the Jewish State is in existence, everything will appear 
small and obvious. Perhaps a fair-minded historian will find that 
it was something after all if an impecunious Jewish journalist in 
the midst of the deepest degradation of the Jewish people and at a 
time of the most disgusting anti-Semitism made a flag out of a 
rag and a people out of a decadent rabble, a people that rallied 

erect around this flag. 

But all this and my skill in negotiating with Powers and princes 
are nothing. 

No one can appreciate what I have done and what I have suffered 
who doesn’t know 

1) what I have endured these past six years with the N. Fr. Pr. 
when I had to tremble for my children’s bread, 

2) what toil and trouble procuring the funds for propaganda 
has caused me, 

3) who my helpers have been. Those with the best intentions are 
either too poor or hamstrung or unsuited. 

# * # 

From the Taverne Royale we went to see Nordau. I made my 
report, in the middle of which I was interrupted by Feldmann the 
newspaper correspondent, an old comrade. He said in response 
to my questions that he knew absolutely nothing about the Zionist 
movement. He is a baptized Jew. 

After he left I continued. 

Then Nordau made a speech. My audience with the Sultan was 
a world-historic fact, but I had committed the enormous mistake 
of playing va banque [all or nothing]! 

People were going to say later that I had forced my way to the 
Sultan under false pretenses, etc. 

Bref, il m’a ecoeure [In short, he nauseated me]. 

No help might be expected from I.C.A., just as little as from 
Rothschild. When I interjected that I was considering requesting 
an audience with the Czar, so that the wealthy Russian Jews might 

be impressed and donate money, Nordau disposed of this by say- 
ing: 


1152 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 
“That is a hallucination!” 

Finally I proposed that the three of us should get together with 
Zadoc Kahn and ask him if he was willing to intervene with the 
I.C.A. and with Edmond Rothschild — provided that he expected 
some success from this, and at least no harm. 

We were supposed to sleep on this and make our decision today. 


June 2, Paris 

The Reitlinger arrangement must, I believe, already be regarded 
as collapsed. Reitlinger despairs of getting rich Jews to cooperate 
in the matter. 

I am making him the following proposal: 

Since I consider it a waste of time to attempt to make Zionism 
intelligible to the rich Jews, he should try to set up a syndicate that 
would first of all subscribe and make available the £50,000 needed 
to enable the Bank to function. In return the syndicate will be 
given the option on the remaining n / 2 million shares, to be ex- 
ercised after the Colonial Trust has obtained the Charter, which 
it should be given. 

Besides, the syndicate will get a share of 25 to 30% of all 
business which the Colonial Trust transacts with the Turkish 
government. 

He is to think this over. 


* # * 

After the luncheon at Reitlinger’s I took Alex to see Nordau. 

The phenomenon Nordau is interesting to watch right now. 
He wishes me well — I am convinced of that — , but he has to make 
some effort to put up with my successes. If it were the other way 
around I would surely be no better, probably even much more 
envious. 

He feels that certain humiliation common among relatives, as 
when a cousin’s enterprise is successful. It expresses itself in cold 
criticism, putting a damper on my further hopes, and in an 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1153 

unmistakable desire to view the matter as if I had made false 
representations to the Sultan— which, by the way, Nordau is 
prepared to forgive me, as a politician sans scrupule [without 

scruples]. 

However, the situation is different and therefore all the more 
splendid. 

I made no definite offers in Constantinople, but only promised 
my efforts. Therefore I can say in three weeks: My Jews are favor- 
ably inclined in principle, but they would like to have an assurance 
first — the Charter , for example! 

The upshot of the conversation at Nordau’s was that we agreed 
to ask Zadoc Kahn for a conference. Alex immediately went to 
see him and made an appointment with His Jewish Eminence for 
today, 10:30 in the morning, at Nordau’s home. 

# # * 

However, the most noteworthy thing yesterday was a letter from 
Moritz Benedikt which my Dad copied and sent to me. 

Cruel Moritz writes with bewitching amiability. He appeals to 
my heart: “Wittmann is ill, Speidel is old, and you are tired of 
allegiance to the empire. Thus the whole burden lies on Bacher s 
shoulders and on mine.” He wants to have a sensible heart-to-heart 
talk with me as soon as I return from my leave, which means that 
he recognizes the latter. I am not being treated as a deserter. 

This means: he is afraid that I will raise the money for a new 
paper now and wants to make up with me. He says I should not 
start anything now. Therefore, when I come back he will either 
have to excuse me from working in the office, make me co- 
publisher, or sell me the N. Fr. Pr. 

The first alternative would suit me best right now, although it 
is the least lucrative. 


June 3, Paris 

Yesterday, meeting with Zadoc Kahn at Nordau s; Marmorek 
present. 



1154 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Afterwards the three of us took down a protocol and sent it to 
Zadoc. 

Zadoc advised against the I.C.A., which is still unattainable for 
us now, but recommended us Edmond Rothschild. I said I was 
willing to go to him if Edmond Rothschild invited me and pro- 
mised me discretion. However, it should be noted for the record 
that the initiative was not mine, but Zadoc’s. 

Nordau and Zadoc se chamaillaient [squabbled]; Nordau in- 
sulted Zadoc first. I succeeded in restoring the peace. 

# # # 

Result nil. Today Zadoc writes that Edmond is not willing. 

* # # 

Letter to Fr. Montefiore: 

Strictly confidential!* 


June 4, 1901 

Dear Sir Francis: 

The latest infamy of the Rothschilds (the insulting denials in 
the Financial News, etc.) were the last straw. My patience is at an 
end and I intend to wage a campaign on the largest scale against 
these people. But this cannot be done with speeches and propa- 
ganda alone. A financial group to oppose them must be created. 
Now that I have returned from Constantinople with a tremendous 
success in my pocket (which I must not make public as yet), the 
time has come. I remember our last conversation in Green Park. 
You said that I should win over the Pereires. All right, I shall do 
my part. But for that I need you. Sir Francis! I know it is a sacrifice 
for you to come over here, on account of your sea-sickness. But 
I also know that you are just as ready to make sacrifices as I am. I 
beg you, come here to Paris the day after tomorrow. Then we shall 
go to see the Pereires together. I should like to have you, the head 
of the first and foremost Jewish firm, by my side when I go on this 

• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1155 

errand Surely you have some connections with the Pereires, and 
e^n if you don’t, you haven’t been the target of such attacks as I 

have 

It is entirely possible that the Pereires think me a dangerous 
person, if they have their information from the hostile press. 

In short, this time I need you as I need no one else, Sir Francis! 
Please wire me tomorrow whether I may count on you. 

With cordial regards, 


Yours very sincerely, 
Th. Herzl. 

* # * 

Reitlinger wants to try to bring in the speculator Michel 
Ephrussi. 


June 5, Paris 

Yesterday evening, another attack of brain anemia. One day I 
shall remain in such a condition. I was just taking a drive in the 
Bois when I fainted in the carriage. At first I lay down on two 
chairs in the bushes, then drove home with greatly diminished 
consciousness. Today I feel better again. But my nerves are gone. 

I can’t stand this flogging dead horses in the conferences at Nor- 
dau’s every afternoon any more. Nordau paints a graphic picture 
for me of all the disagreeable things in store for me. The hostile 
press, he says, will say shortly that I am a new Baron Hirsch who 
wants to make business deals with Turkey on the backs of the 
Jewish people — et autres bonnes choses [and other nice things]. 
It s enough to give a man a stroke. 

Nordau is against my speaking in opposition to the Rothschilds 
in London now. The speech would only cause a sensation, and we 
ought to keep away from demagogic declamations. As for benefit, 
Nordau foresees none from it. 


1156 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

June 6, Paris 

My good English boys have immediately flocked to the colors. 
Francis Montefiore — honor to him! — telegraphs that he plans 
to be here today. 

Zangwill has arranged a Maccabaean Dinner* Cowen is making 
the general arrangements. 


* # # 

In any case, the English Jews present a picture quite different 
from that of the French. Yesterday I paid Zadoc Kahn a visit 
for the sake of appearances He defended the mauvais vouloir [ill 
will] of the Rothschilds, and said in his funny Alsatian French: 
“II vaut bourdant bleintre les riges [Yet ve haf to piddy de rish].” 

Bleintre les riges! That sufficiently characterizes the pious man. 

* * * 

Francis Montefiore is here, but doesn’t know the Pereires. My 
first move now is to find out which Pereire is the master mind and 
what kind of a man he is. This afternoon Nordau is calling on a 
Comte de Larmandie, who knows Pereire, in order to get the 
necessary information from him. Then Sir Francis is to go to 
Pereire first and ask him whether he is willing to meet with me. 

Today Nordau criticized to Alex — in my absence — the way I 
had acted up to now. He thinks me insincere and sneaky in my 
dealings with princes and the Jewish people. I believe that one day 
he will carry this censure of his into the open and disgrace himself, 
myself, and all of us with it. 

In any event, his behavior at this moment is discouraging. 
Should things go wrong later, he will have covered himself. If 
things keep going well and upward, he will simply, entre nous [be- 
tween us], have made a mistake — et n’en parlons plus [and let’s not 
talk about it any more]. 

• In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1157 

June 6, Paris. 

Letter to the Sultan: * 

accordance with Y.I.M.’s desire, I have set to work im- 
mediately. 

I have the good fortune to be able to report today that matters 
stand well. Among my friends I have found dispositions that 
permit me to hope that I shall be able to submit definite proposals 
to Your Imperial Majesty this very month. But I must not gloss 
over the fact that there are also Jews who do not share my views. 

Y.I.M. in your lofty wisdom will be able to make out easily whom 
and what interests those people are serving. It has seemed op- 
portune to me first of all to create a current of opinion favorable 
to the general project of coming to the aid of the Ottoman finances, 
and to this end I shall make a speech in London next week, at a 
Jewish club of which I am an honorary member and which is 
tendering me a banquet. It is known in London as elsewhere that I 
do not pursue personal interests, and for this simple reason I 
believe that my words will produce a certain effect. 

Perhaps the enemies, Jewish and non-Jewish, of the prosperity 
of the Ottoman Empire will also use the occasion to pounce upon 
me — but with the aid of God and the trust of Y.I.M. I shall proceed 
with the task I have undertaken, and I hope to succeed within a 
very short time. 

The lion will be relieved of his thorn. 

Begging Y.I.M. to continue to grant me your favor, which gives 
me the necessary courage and makes me proud and happy, I re- 
main, Sire, 

Y.I.M.’s very devoted and obedient servant, 
Dr. Th. Herzl. 


June 8, Paris 

Yesterday I gave a luncheon at my hotel in honor of Francis 
Montefiore, and utilized the table talk to draw Nordau’s attention 
In French in the original. 


1158 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

in a very delicate manner to the fact that I now need forbearance 
and not criticism, from my friends. A man on a tight-rope should 
not be made dizzy. 

At first he was piqued, but then he became pleasant and said: 
"You are right; all we can do now is hurry along with the mattress.” 
(That is, in case there is a fall.) 

No answer so far from Pereire as to whether he is willing to see 
us. Good Sir Francis has just gone there again. This goes to show 
what assurance great social standing gives a man. I would have 
thought that I would compromise my dignity terribly by it. Sir 
Francis simply hasn’t received as many refusals in his life as I have. 

* * # 

The most elegant thing about yesterday’s luncheon, which was 
very chic [smart] was Mr. Reitlinger’s mezummen bentshen [joint 
after-dinner grace], in accordance with Nordau’s truly discriminat- 
mg suggestion. The yellow-damask-covered furniture of the Hotel 
Chatham had never heard anything like that. 


June 10th, Hans’s (tenth) eleventh birthday 

On the train, between Folkestone and London. 

I have now dozed and rested for 24 hours in Folkestone. 

Before my departure from Paris, the Jerusalem Jew Navon Bey 
called on me with projects — a badly Parisianized Oriental Jew, 
type of red Oriental Jew, face of a bird of prey, furtive crook. He 
once made intrigues against me and now offers me his services. I 
let him come, in any case. He isn’t going to cheat me. 


June 1 1, London 

Considering the hopelessness of winning over wealthy Jews, 
in Paris or anywhere, Alex Marmorek and Nordau suggested the 
idea of touching Carnegie, the American Croesus-philanthropist, 
for some money. Nordau expressed his willingness to go to see him, 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1159 

introduced by the American Ambassador Porter. However, Porter 
was not in Paris. During the night before my departure it occurred 
to me that Hechler would be a better man for it. 

I immediately sent him a telegram, and he is arriving here this 

evening. . , , , , 

VdmWry is also here and will attend tonight s dinner of the 

Maccabean Club. Zangwill, who is very nice, sat up late into the 

night translating my speech. 


June 13, London 


I am awfully dinnered* 

On commence d me s’arracher [I’m beginning to be in great de- 
mand]. 

The day before yesterday the Maccabean Club Dinner* went 
off the way I had intended it to. I said so little that a lot can be 
conjectured. 

The press* has been rather good so far. I had a telegraphic news- 
agency wire a manifesto to America which Zangwill had to com- 
pose for me. I am asking £ 1 ]/ 2 million. 

Yesterday noon I lunched at Lady Lewis’s with a few Jewish 
ladies from among the uppers,* got into a violent dispute with 
them, made an impression, and got further invitations. 

But a more important figure has turned up: Mr. Bramley 
Moore, the bishop of the Irvingites, who once came to see me in 
Vienna. 

Hechler is staying with him. Bramley Moore, too, is an ardent 
Zionist, and wanted to have me join him for luncheon yesterday. 
I came, but didn’t eat anything, because I wanted to save my 
appetite for Lady Lewis’s. 

The bishop’s house is very elegant. But in the drawing room 
a tabernacle is set up. 

* In English in the original. 


1160 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER 2 L 

Then I decided, au meme litre que [by the same token „i 
Hechler, to include Mr. Bramley Moore in the Carnegie project 

He felt moved, it seemed, to be collaborating on th e Jewish 
restoration* He is a charming, good-humored old man qui a k 
religion gaie [whose religion is cheerful]. 

The bishop’s wife is a nice, friendly old soul, too. 

Bramley Moore proposed that we approach the Duke of North- 
umberland as mediator with Carnegie. I accepted this idea, and 
now I am waiting. 


June 15 , London 

High society! Society* is curious about me. I am an object of 

interest, a dish at the dinner-table; people come to meet Dr. 
Herzl* 

Yesterday at Sir Francis’s house with several ladies and gentle- 
men. Present: Princess Lowenstein, Lady Jane Taylor, and others 

uhose names I didn t retain. Also Gilbert Farquhar, both a Lord 
and an actor. 

I shall use Princess Lowenstein to get to the King. For they all 

invited me. Lady Jane was in the audience at the last Congress and 

told me that her daughters had envied her for having lunch with 
me. 

Only the Jews of the Upper Tens* won’t hear of it. 


June 17 , Richmond 

I have been here since yesterday, in order to have a rest and write 
the Sultan. 

In the meantime, I have a few irons in the fire. I am having 
angwill pave the way to Carnegie for me. I sensed that he wanted 
to get into the act when I told him about our agreement in Paris 
In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1161 

that Nordau should obtain an introduction to Carnegie from Gen- 
eral Porter, the American Ambassador. Yesterday it occurred to 
me that Rudyard Kipling could be the intermediary, since Zang- 
will is on good terms with him. I wrote Zangwill from here to go 
to Brighton to see Kipling. Don’t know if he’ll do it. 

On Saturday I sent Hechler to the Bishop of Ripon, a friend of 
the King’s, in order to get me an audience with the King. Good 
Bishop Bramley Moore also thought this would raise my prestige. 

1 would ask the King to tell his big Jews that they could help me 
without prejudice to their English patriotism* 

On this occasion Hechler told me that after the first time I had 
called on Bramley Moore, the latter had immediately gone to the 
nearby Irvingite church with him. There Bramley had put on his 
bishop’s vestments and said: Now let us pray to God and ask him 
what our duty is. 

Good Hechler wept as he told me this, and I too was very 
touched. 

These simple Christian hearts are much better than our Jewish 
clerics who think of their wedding fees from the rich Jews. 

# # * 

Alex Marmorek has been to London and had a breakdown when 
the experiments on animals, made by English physicians, failed 
completely. I cheered him up and told him that I had faith in 
him nevertheless and would get him the necessary money, which 
he can’t get from any other source now. The only condition I made 
was that he must not leave his position at the Pasteur Institute 
until he felt secure. I told him that he had to take a six months 
leave, but must not quit entirely. 

* # * 

Letter to the Sultan: * * 

Sire: 

I have the honor to place at the foot of Your Imperial Majesty s 
Throne the result of my endeavors. 

* In English in the original. 

* In French in the original. 


1162 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

Following the line Y.I.M. saw fit to suggest to me, I believed it 
urgent first of all, that is to say, up to the month of October, to 
obtain a million and a half Turkish pounds to take the place, in a 
less burdensome way, of the difficult, if not impossible task nf 
consolidating the Debt. 

The arrangement that my friends and I have worked out is as 
follows. 

The 1,500,000 Turk. pds. could be raised by the immediate 
creation of a new source of revenue. But this source of revenue 
must, at the same time, be of a sort to make the Jews aware of the 
highly generous feelings toward them which Y.I.M. cherishes in 
his fatherly heart. In this way we shall prepare the ground for all 
future undertakings. 

To this end my friends are willing to set up a joint-stock com- 
pany with a capital of five million Turk. pds. The purpose of this 
company would be to develop agriculture, industry, and com- 
merce in short, the economic life of Asia Minor, Palestine, and 
Syria. All the necessary concessions being granted by Y.I.M.’s grace, 
the company would engage to pay an annual contribution of 
60,000 Turkish pounds to Y.I.M.’s government; and on the basis 
of this contribution, guaranteed by the company’s capital, a loan, 
to be amortized in 81 years, could immediately be floated. This 
loan would cost nothing, because the interest and amortization 
service would be absorbed by the company, which itself would 
take the bonds and then place them. The govt, would simply draw 
the 1,500,000 Turk. pds. 

It is of course understood that the company must be incorp- 
orated in Turkey and that the Jewish immigrants it would bring 
in must immediately become Turkish subjects, accepting military 
service under the glorious banners of Y.I.M. 

With the 1,500,000 pounds there would be time to study and 
exploit other sources of income. Y.I.M. deigned to speak to me 
about matches. Among my friends I have found some who will be 
able to handle it. In this matter, too, they will make every effort 
to offer the Imperial Govt, the most advantageous terms, so that 
the revenue from matches may be used as the basis for a further 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1163 

loan while not charging the tax payers too much. The procedure 
will be the same for exploiting sources of oil and mines and also 

electric power. 

The proposals for these other projects will be worked out in 
detail and estimated as soon as Y.I.M. commands. The matter of 
the matches can be settled right away, while the others will need 
more time for study. And I take the liberty of adding that my 
disinterested service for all these projects is at the disposition of 
Y.I.M. even if Your Majesty should not believe it useful here and 
now to enter upon the plan for the Great Ottoman-Jewish Com- 
pany for Asia Minor. Above everything I must prove that Y.I.M. 
has in me a zealous and loyal servant. I work for Y.I.M., asking 
only the honor and happiness of Your Majesty s exalted trust, be- 
cause I am convinced that the time will not be long in coming 
when it will be realized that it is to the interest of the Ottoman 
Empire to attract the economic resources of the Jews and to protect 
our unfortunate people. Besides, it is in the highest interest of the 
Jews to see Turkey strong and flourishing. It is the idea of my life. 

The plan for the Ottoman-Jewish Company, as well as giving 
a signal to the entire Jewish people, would have another advantage, 
namely, that taxable things — persons and property — would in- 
crease in all the provinces where the Company operated. The Com- 
pany itself would pay more and more taxes with the growth of its 
business. Jewish capital would flow in from every quarter to estab- 
lish itself there and to remain in the Empire. At the same time this 
quiet work, which has been called “removing the lion’s thorn,” will 
go on without the knowledge of those who wish harm to the 
Empire. 

There is only a word to be added. If Y.I.M. wishes the arrange- 
ment for the 1,500,000 pounds to be made by October, there is no 
time to lose. We must not lose sight of the fact that businessmen 
2nd financiers require definite agreements to pay over the necessary 
sums. We must count on at least three months before the capital 
is turned over. If Y.I.M. in your lofty wisdom decides that it is 
opportune to enter upon these negotiations in order to have the 
t-Soo.ooo pounds at your disposal for the month of October, the 


1164 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

concessions for the Grand Company ought to be fixed at the 
beginning of July. If I receive the order to come to Constantinople 6 
I shall come without delay. In that case, in my humble opinion i| 
would be desirable to summon at the same time my excellent 
friend, Professor Vambery, who is such a profoundly devoted serv- 
ant of Y.I.M. and who, with his knowledge of the general situation 
of the country, could be very useful. 

I do not know if I am permitted to mention one other thing. I 
do it very reluctantly, wishing above all not to displease Y.I.M in 
any way. Someone came looking for me to tell me that in Paris 
there is a writer, M. Ahmed Riza, who has become known by his 
attacks upon the Imp. Govt. I was told that there is a way to stop 
these attacks. I simply took note of the statement without com- 
mitting myself in any way at all, for it is not my business to get 
mixed up in matters of this kind, so anxious am I to serve Y.M.’s 
august person on every occasion. I shall do nothing without an 
order; I shall not even see this man without authorization. But if 
Y.I.M. believes it useful, I will take up the matter, and it is of 
course understood that for putting an end to the attacks I will 
accept no recompense except Y.I.M.’s word of commendation, 
which is for me the greatest recompense. 

I have. Sire, the honor to be 

Y.I.M.’s most humble and obedient servant. 


June 18, London 

Covering letter to Ibrahim.* 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a letter which, I 
dare to hope, will please H.I.M. 

I must remain in London until June 25; I shall go from here to 
Altaussee to rest for several days with my family. 

If H.I.M. has any commands to give me, until June 25 a telegram 
# In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1165 
yi reac h me at the Hotel Cecil, London, and after June 30 at 
Altaussee, Styria, A ustria. 

This evening I am to have the pleasure of seeing your son. 

Please accept, Your Excellency, my highest regards and 


gratitude. 


Your ever devoted, 
Th.H. 


June 19 

Hechler returned from the Bishop of Ripon with the message 
that the latter would first have to see me before recommending that 
the King receive me. 

Since I am endeavoring to organize a round-table conference* 
with the big Jews* and to get to the elusive Carnegie, I shall wait 
here for the Bishop till Monday and then urge him to take me to 
Sandringham on Tuesday. 


June 25, Tuesday 

Aboard the Folkestone-Boulogne ferry. 

In London I was overtired and irritable, but today there is fair 
weather again. A calm sea. 

Yesterday wasn’t bad. I had a conversation of no immediate 
benefit with Claude Montefiore, the head of our opponents, at 
Gaster’s home. At the moment Gaster is loyal to my empire again. 
Claude is a stupid ass who affects English correctness. I needled 
him with chivalrous opposition. He was afraid of me and fled; but 
he promised to examine any proposals of mine that might come 
before the I.C.A. without prejudice. 

Then I drove to see Dr. Boyd Carpenter, the Bishop of Ripon. 

In English in the original. 


1166 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

He and his intelligent wife were very nice indeed* The bishoo 
and I looked deeply into each other’s eyes, and we liked each other 
He put himself completely at my disposal for interceding with the 
King. However, an audience couldn’t be arranged in 24 hours. But 
wouldn’t it be worth a trip to me at some later date? It certainly 
would. 

In the evening I went to see the banker Seligmann who likewise 
promised his bons offices [good offices] with the gros legumes [big- 
shots] Montagu etc. as soon as I had the Charter. This promise 
suffices me for the time being. Now the Sultan must give me an 
answer. 

Naturally I didn’t expect to be given money on the basis of my 
vague disclosures. I went to Paris and London to make it appear to 
the Sultan that I had been in Paris and London. Everything I wrote 
him from London I could have told him right there in Constanti- 
nople. 


July 10, Vienna 

Letter to Councillor-of-State von Hauer, regarding the Vogel 
trial: 

My dear Sir: 

Permit me most kindly to trouble you privatim [in private] with 
the answer which I felt too embarrassed to give you in public 
yesterday. 

As it was, I already had the disagreeable feeling of striking a 
boggart s pose, although you do know that I had never volun- 
teered to testify. You asked me, honorable Mr. State’s Attorney, 
whether Taubin’s very first offer had not given me pause. It 
did not! For I myself had made great financial sacrifices for the 
Zionist cause, considering my circumstances, and so had a number 
of my friends. At bottom, Taubin intended to give his money away 
without any personal sacrifice, because he couldn’t, after all, take 
• In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1167 

it with him. Despite this I thought that I could act no differently, 
for the Zionist movement, which is and shall remain ethical, must 
not accept any money of dubious purity. He did not want to give 
it to his relatives; this is my conviction, although I don’t like the 
avaricious Vogel and have no connection of any sort with him. I 
am not even a Freemason. 

Please don’t take this imposition amiss. I have such a high 
opinion of the office which you exercise earnestly and strictly that 
I believe myself entitled to send you this contribution to the truth 
which you are seeking. 

With deep respect, I am 

Very sincerely yours, 
Th.H. 


July 20, Alt-Aussee 

A charming letter has come from the Grand Duke. (Enel. 1 in 
the envelope of Summer, 1901). 

Grand Duke Constantine se heurtait a un refus du Czar [met 
with a rebuff from the Czar] . 

On the other hand, Katzenelsohn, who came to Vienna to see 
me, reports that Ssipyagin regarded the scheme as not impossible. 
Ssipyagin referred him to the Adjutant-General — von Hess, I be- 
lieve — who declared he was willing, but desired, through his 
brother-in-law, a reciprocation, about 10,000 rubles. Since we 
have no money, I asked that the matter be postponed until autumn. 
Then I may also get to Edward VII, through Lord Suffield, whom 
Zangwill has got hold of. At the moment, until I have an answer 
from the Sultan, I don’t want any audiences. Vdmb£ry consoles me, 
saying that things are always done that slowly down there. After 
all, I shall still have time enough to move the lower world. Crespi 
reports that Calice is intriguing against me, furious at my Grand 
Cordon; further, that Constans wants to arrange the finances with 


1168 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

the aid of Rouvier, and of this I notified Vdmb^ry in usum Angliae 
[for use in England]. 

Letter to the Grand Duke: 


July 22 

Most Illustrious Grand Duke, 

Most Gracious Prince and Lord I 
Only today am I able to reply to Your Royal Highness’ kind 
holograph letter, with my most respectful thanks, because I have 
been out of town. Under the present circumstances, even H.M. the 
Czar’s refusal does not discourage me, because I did not intend to 
request any definite aid, but only benevolent inactive interest, as 
I permitted myself to state at Karlsruhe. 

I shall faithfully follow Your Royal Highness’ advice as soon as 
the opportunity presents itself. Requesting the continuance of 
this good will, which I count among the greatest rewards of my 
modest activity, I remain with the deepest gratitude and my most 
heart-felt respect 


Your Royal Highness’ ever-loyal servant, 
Dr. Th.H. 

To Badenweiler Palace. 


July 26, Alt-Aussee 

On the 15th Vdmbery wrote me that even before my arrival 
Ambassador Constans had offered the Sultan four million francs 
(so little?); but this financial arrangement had been wrecked by 
intrigues, and he, Vdmbdry, had heard in authoritative circles in 
London that they were in favor of our driving a Jewish wedge be- 
tween the Franco-Russian machinations. He intends to be with the 
Sultan again in September and to give things a push. 

Wellisch reports that now the financial distress is very acute 
again. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1169 
Crespi reports that the Rothschild representative is agitating 
against us. 


July 28, Alt-Aussee 

While in London I planted jalons [stakes] to enable me to meet 
with Cecil Rhodes, who may be able to get me the money I need. 
His South Africans could privately buy up the bonds of the Turk- 
ish debt, and then I would tell the Sultan: here is the liberation 
from the debt in return for surrendering Palestine — and to the 
Jews I would say: here you have Palestine in return for x plus y, x 
being the amount it cost the South Africans to buy up the bonds, 
y the profit they stipulated. 

On instructions from me, Joe Cowen asked Mr. Stead to inter- 
cede with Rhodes for a meeting. Today Joe sends me Stead s reply 
from which I extract the following passage: * 

I told him that Herzl would come and see him any day that was 
convenient; that he wanted to discuss with the one founder of 
States that modern times had produced. Rhodes said: “If he wants 
any tip from me, I have only one word to say, and that is: let him 
put money in his purse” — which was very characteristic of Rhodes. 


Rhodes had further expressed the opinion that Asiatic Turkey 
ought to be turned over to Germany, since England could not rule 
the whole world and needed a buffer area between herself and 

Russia. Rhodes is also said to be quite charmed with the German 
Kaiser. 

Thereupon I telegraphed Cowen: * * 

Tell him my excellent relations to William. 

'Original text. 

In English in the original. 


1170 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

August 6, Alt-Aussee 

I am now studying Turkish together with Hans. 


August 6 

Letter to Crespi: # 

Dear Sir: 

To my great surprise you are not keeping me informed about 
what goes on. 

Every project and proposal interests me. What has happened 
about the Debt? What is being done? 


With kind regards, 
Herzl. 


In yesterday’s evening edition of the N. Fr. Pr. it says that the 
Sultan has come out against the dette publique. Perhaps this is 
already a manoeuvre to force the rates of exchange down. 


August 7 , Alt-Aussee. 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

The newspaper reports about Cohn are getting more and more 
curious. Particularly the last one, what he has permitted himself 
to say about the debt, makes a strange impression. It looks as if 
t ere was some scoundrel near him who is base enough to steal 
ot er people s ideas, but too stupid to carry them out, too. The 
story about the two housewives who chew the fat on their way home 
om the market and one of whom has her beef stolen from her 
shopping basket. The culprit: a dog. She follows the kopek [mutt] 
wit er eyes and consoles herself: He could steal it from me all 
right, but he’ll never be able to cook it. 

In French in the original. 


tH E COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1171 

But joking aside: the man is riding toward the abyss at full tilt. 

I believe that as his friend and mine as well you should write him 

something like the following: 

Cohn, you are ill advised. Your attack on the dette will have the 
same result as that on the mails; you will have to come down off 
your high horse and emerge from the conflict richer by a humi- 
liation, but poorer in power and credit. All these things that you 
cannot accomplish in this thoughtless way, which is gross and 
faithless at the same time, you could accomplish, or would have 
accomplished, if you had made use of the man whom I sent down to 
see you last May. That man, who didn’t ask anything for himself 
—in contrast with the other creatures who offer you their serv- 
ices— that man would have represented your interests both finan- 
cially and journalistically. My sending such a completely disinter- 
ested and reliable helper your way was one of the greatest services 
I have rendered you during my long and loyal career. But what do 
you do? The man starts working on your behalf, takes trips, creates 
a favorable climate of opinion for you all over the world, begins 
to organize a campaign of assistance for you, and gives you a 
report. You don’t even give him an answer. Naturally the man is 
annoyed and almost hurt. He complains to me for having exposed 
him needlessly. He doesn’t want to be made a laughing-stock, and 
the sof [upshot] will be that you won’t be able to have him any 
more when you seriously want him. He has offered to bring you 
support within three months, with no risk at all to you. You let 
the time pass, forefeiting a willingness which won t return so 
advantageously, and after three months you will have the same 
difficulties you have now, if not greater ones. This is the opinion 
of your worried old friend and servant Reshid.” 

You will know better than I how to translate that into Oriental 
terms in usum Cohni [for Cohn’s use]. You will concede to me 
that it is true and correct. But I believe that this should be done 
without even one day’s delay, for things down there are coming to a 
head surprisingly fast. 


1172 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERz L 
Hoping for news from you soon, and with a cordial embrace 

Your devoted nephew by choice, 

Dori. 

P S- Perhaps it is advisable not to write directly to Cohn, but to 
the Chief Eunuch, to have it shown around. As though you had 

wanted to pour out your heart; and the Eunuch is said to be 
indiscreet. 


August n, Alt-Aussee 

If I weren’t going into battle with a wooden sword, I could have 
given a different turn to the Turkish-French conflict, in which 
Constans was going to mobilize the French fleet to force his finan- 
cial plan through. I wanted to slip into the papers — the Paris ones 
through Alex Marmorek, the Berlin papers through Dr. Friede- 
mann a notice unmasking the ambassador as the agent d’affaires 
[business agent] that he is. Neither man carried out my assign- 
ment. The upshot will be that Cohn will have to eat humble pie 
and grant the French robber financiers whatever they want. 


August 1 1, to Vdmbdry 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

At the moment I couldn’t even come to Graz to see you, because 
I am up to my neck in work and must await visitors. But we can 
communicate with each other by letter. 

The French conflict is ending the way it was bound to. I could 
have helped Cohn; he would have saved himself humiliation and 
money. You see, I could have got a torpedo destroyer for him; tant 
pis pour lui [so much the worse for him]. But I beg of you, rub it 
into him, or have somebody else do so. 

In fact, it is none too early for you to have the groundwork laid 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1173 

for your activities with Cohn. The ground must be prepared when 
QU c0 me— that is, as a savior. You know much better than I how 
lou have to do this. Permit me only to remind you that we shall 
place three hundred thousand guilders at your disposal when you 
have obtained for us the Charter that we need to settle Palestine. 

What people you cut in on this in order to ensure our goal is 
naturally left to your judgment. But I think you ought to make 
preparations now, so as to achieve results this very autumn. 

With cordial regards. 


Your devoted 
Herzl. 


August 22, Alt-Aussee 

The promise of a commission has worked with Vdmbdry. He 
writes me one of the strangest letters. He wants to overthrow Izzet 
and take his place — or overthrow Abdul Hamid! 

I am writing him: 


August 21, 1901 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

I have read your youthfully courageous letter with great joy. 
You are truly a divinely favored person. May God keep you! 

I am herewith returning to you Draft I, which met with your 
approval, because I have a copy of it. Translating it into French is 
pointless, because it probably will not be practicable in this form. 
In particular, Cohn will not want to leave the administration of 
Palestine to an English company any more than he would to a 
company of any other nationality. That would also create frightful 
diplomatic difficulties with the other Powers. And, after all, we 
are concerned with completing the project. 

That is why we shall have to look for another form. You see that 
1 am not a fantast or a fool; I myself made a proposal more agree- 



1174 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

able to Cohn in my London memorandum, which has remained 
unanswered. On June 18 I wrote him the following, among other 
things, from London: 

Insertion [pp. 116 iff.] 

By toutes les concessions necessaires [all the necessary conces- 
sions] I meant the Charter, of course, without, however, going 
into detail at this first step. You will notice further that I treat the 
whole thing only as an initial step. 1 ,500,000 T urkish pounds won’t 
solve Cohn’s problems, as I well know, and I am actually in a posi- 
tion to obtain much more for him later, once he has given this fmt 
proof of his good intentions. 

But how is the plan to be carried out? First of all he must give 
the Charter, specifically, to the Jewish Colonial Trust for the 
formation of the Compagnie Otlomane-Juive pour I’Asie Mineure, 
la Palestine et la Syrie [Ottoman-Jewish Company for Asia Minor, 
Palestine, and Syria]. To give the whole thing a financially sound 
character, the Jewish Colonial Trust could deposit a security of, 
say, one million francs as soon as the Charter is delivered to us, and 
this earnest would be forfeited to the Turkish treasury if the Com- 
pany was not founded within a certain period of time. But please 
do not talk about this proposal until a serious guarantee is de- 
manded, because I think down there they like to grab even the 
smallest securities. 

By what guarantees we, for our part, want to have Cohn’s serious 
intentions backed is a matter still to be discussed. 

Draft I would therefore have to serve only as a preamble, and 
you will certainly know yourself the most appropriate manner in 
which it can be used. 

If Cohn agrees to it, I shall start reorganizing Cohn’s general 
situation at the same time that the 5-million company is formed. 
I shall carry out this reorganization within three years. You can 
tell him that, and you may add that never again will he find a man 
who will do this for him under such conditions. It is my p 10 " 
foundest conviction that you are rendering him the greatest service 
of your life, while at the same time you are putting our people 


XHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1175 

rmanently in your debt. You see, it isn’t true that in any business 
transaction only one party can profit. This would be a salvation for 
both parties. 

But why repeat what has been said so often? I await your good 
news, particularly the announcement of your departure. 

May God help us! 


With a hearty embrace, 
Your devoted Dori. 


Postscript. 


August 22 


Missed closing of mails yesterday. Today I read about the turn 
in the French conflict. Perhaps it is already too late and fate will 
take its course? I have long seen it coming. 


August 28, Alt-Aussee 

On the 24th, the tramp Crespi was here, having come from 
Ischl where he is staying with the Turkish “Consul-General.” He 
tried to pump me, but I remained impenetrable and didn’t ask 
any services from him either, although the scoundrel draws a 
monthly salary of 1 ,000 francs from us. 

* # * 

Via London Trust I received a proposal from a certain Bekir 
Sonhami in Galata to come to the aid of the Sultan. The “Pro- 
tovestiaire [Keeper of the Robes] S. Bey” was willing to arrange 
for me to be sent for, but wanted to make something on it. I dis- 
creetly sounded Crespi out about this Protovestiaire and learned 
that he was the Sultan’s foster brother. Thereupon I sent Sonhami’s 
letter to VamWry and sent the following wire without signature: * 

Bekir Sonhami, Galata. 

In French in the original. 


1176 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

I have received your letter of August 16 via London. I can come 
to aid, but will come only if he himself calls me. 


August 2 8, Alt-Aussee 

Court Secretary Sonnenschein of the Ministry of Railroads was 
here for an hour on Sunday and made me an offer to start a paper 
for the industrialists. I didn’t refuse, but was very reserved. He 
wants to speak with Koerber first. 


August 30, Alt-Aussee 

Telegram to Ibrahim:* 

To His Excellency Ibrahim Bey, 

Grand Master of Ceremonies. 

I beg Your Excellency to place at the foot of the throne my most 
respectful congratulations on the occasion of H.I.M.’s birthday. I 
sincerely hope that the clouds of the present hour will soon be dis- 
sipated, and I further beg Your Excellency to recall to H.I.M.’s 
mind the story about the thorn which I told him. It is still true and 
possible. 


Very faithfully yours, 
Dr. Th. H. 


September 2, Alt-Aussee 
Yesterday I received the following wire:* 


Doctor Theodor Herzl, Alt-Aussee. 


From Yildiz. 

I have conveyed your felicitations to His Imperial Majesty, and 
• In French in the original. 


THE complete diaries or theodor herzl 1177 

he has been pleased to instruct me to express to you his exalted 

gratification. 


Ibra. 


* * * 

Very important; so the thread is not broken. I am immediately 
writing so to V dmb£ry . 

At the same time, however, I read in the paper that this Ibra- 
him’s son, Said Ibrahim Bey, who had had dinner with me in 
London, died at Karlsbad two days ago, at the age of 29I 
He was a fine, handsome man. 


September 2, Alt-Aussee 

To Vdmb£ry: 

First, a copy of the exchange of telegrams on the occasion of the 
birthday. 

Then: 

As you see, the story about the thorn seems to be a magic formula. 
But I feel that we ought to go right on striking the iron. It is a fact 
that Cohn doesn’t have a radish ready for the Ramadan yet. He 
will need about £200,000; I already know that. At the last moment 
they will run to the usurers again. I can get the money for him, but 
would have to get started well in advance. I think, therefore, that 
on the very day you receive this letter — that is, tomorrow — you 
should tell him the following in the west-eastern language of 
figures: 

“My friend can bring you, O Cohn, the money that you need 
for the Ramadan, and — mark my words! — without usurers or 
pawn-brokers. Moreover, from then on he can continue to take 
care of your obligations that fall due according to a definite plan, 
and Use fait fort [will act vigorously] to straighten out your entire 
financial situation within 3 years with the help of his friends. But 
the prerequisite is that you call him no later than the latter half of 
September. For he does need some time for these arrangements. 


1178 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

But my friend would want you to summon me along with him so 
that I can conduct the negotiations between you and him.” 

I am now asking myself whether the lack of an answer to your let- 
ters isn’t the consequence of Cohn’s having shown your letters to his 
Second Secretary. I wouldn’t put it past him. And what should be 
done now? 

September 10, Alt-Aussee 

Vambery advises me to write to Ibrahim. 

Letter to Ibrahim:* 

Your Excellency: 

Together with your telegram in which you did me the honor 
to express to me H.I.M.’s exalted gratification at my congratula- 
tions I have had the heart-rending news of the death of your fine 
son. I have permitted myself to send you a telegram of condolence. 

I met this charming young man in London and we had a long 
discussion of ideas of the future; I saw in him a hope for your 
eautiful country, and now — But I do not want to revive your 
paternal grief. May God comfort you and give you strength. 

In grief of this cruel kind it is good for a man to have ceaseless 
occupation. That makes him forget. Also, after having pitied 
our Excellency for having to think of affairs of state during your 
personal torments, I told myself that work is a form of distraction 
that will do you good. 

The news from your country is truly not comforting to your 
iends. And yet there would have been ways of taking you out 
of these financial difficulties which are also having political reper- 
cussions. I don t want to insist on the services of this nature that 
I can render to H.I.M. Let the Sultan only know that I am full of 
gratitude for the kind sentiments which he has been pleased to 
express with regard to myself and the Jews in general. Whenever 
H.I.M. would have recourse to my disinterested services, all he has 
to do is summon me. Since leaving Constantinople I have spoken 
• In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1179 

with my friends in various countries, and I am not saying too much 
if I undertake to settle the situation after some time. I am always 
dumbfounded to read what sacrifices the Imperial government 
has to make for relatively insignificant sums. Onerous concessions 
are prolonged, usurious conditions are agreed to, etc. It is as unbe- 
lievable as it is futile. 

Now I am advised that there will again be requirements for the 
Ramadan. I should be happy if on this occasion I could show my 
devotion to H.I.M. by real services. The only requirement would 
be that I be called on several weeks before the Ramadan in order 
to be able to make the arrangements if there is an intention of using 
ray humble capabilities. 

May I request Your Excellency to let H.I.M. know this. 

With the expression of my high regard, I am 

Your Excellency’s devoted servant 
Dr.Th.H. 


September 23, Alt-Aussee, Yom Kippur 

For weeks I have made all sorts of efforts to put the wire to the 
Sultan back in operation. Through Ibrahim, Nuri, Vdmb£ry — in 
umpteen ways. 

During the past few days I have been mulling over a letter to the 
Sultan, but can never make up my mind to write one, for it is a fact 
that he owes me a reply. 

Today I sat by the lake, which was beautiful. And I thought how 
it would be if next Spring I could sit by the Lake of Gennesaret 
like this, and I decided to write. 

The figures in my chess game now are Cecil Rhodes (with whom 
1 am to meet after his return from Scotland); Roosevelt, the new 
President (through Gottheil); the King of England (through the 
Bishop of Ripon); the Czar (through General von Hesse), etc. 

On top of this I am tormented by the chance of getting a news- 
P a per in Vienna, although Court Secretary Sonnenschein, who 
§0t me exc * te d about it, hasn’t let me hear from him in almost 3 


1180 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

weeks, so that it was probably another dud. But with a big paper 
I could work wonders. 

The Bank’s capacity for action, which is supposed to be com- 
pleted by October, is another thing that worries me. 

At the lake it occurred to me how I could bring Gottheil into 
play as a knight on the chessboard. I shall tell the Sultan that I 
know a method of getting an ambassador as his permanent friend 
in the concert of Powers; he should request or accept Gottheil. 
Letter to the Sultan: * 

Sire: 

In again availing myself of the gracious permission to address 
myself directly to Y.I.M., I wish to call to Y.I.M.’s attention, in 
a few words, a rather serious situation. 

The renowned Sovereign will judge the liberty I take to have 
been dictated by my devotion. 

Sire, grave days are approaching for the Ottoman Empire. I have 
just learned some rather disagreeable facts. It is not a formal coali- 
tion that is being prepared, but a sort of agreement for non-inter- 
ference. At a given moment a certain power will go ahead. Y.I.M. 
will get no help from where Y.I.M. expects it. Moreover, help will 
seem to come from a much more formidable source 

Advanced as things are, there is yet a way to remedy them. 

I know a way in which discord could be caused between those 
whose alliance would be disastrous. A man could be obtained who 
would perform decisive services for Y.I.M., and to remove any 
false impression I hasten to say that this would cost absolutely 
nothing and would arouse no suspicion whatever. But the matter 
is so delicate that I could confide it only orally to Y.I.M. in person 
and alone. 

The first effect of this plan would be to win time. Then sources 
of income could be created and the resistance of the Imperial govt, 
strengthened. 

If I dare to speak thus, it is because I believe that a devoted man 
is never useless, especially if it is well established that he asks 

• In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1181 

nothing and expects nothing for himself. I permit myself to explain 
the motives which cause me to act. 

The greatness and power of the Ottoman Empire are the only 
hope of the Jewish nation, and it is as a faithful Jew that I wish to 
eam, not for myself but for my brethren, the good will of the great 
Caliph. 

If Y.I.M. wishes to hear me, it would be easy for me to come to 
Constantinople for several days. 

I have, Sire, the honor to be 

Y.I.M.’s most humble and obedient servant, 
Dr. Th.H. 

* # # 


Your Excellency: * 

I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a very impor- 
tant letter for the Sultan, which it would be to H.I.M.’s interest 
to take note of at once. 

This week I am ending my summer vacation to return to Vienna. 
To tell the truth, my vacation is only a change of desks, for my 
work never lets up and I have to work here as I do in the city, but 
at least here I have had mountain air, which has done me a lot of 
good. 

I am sincerely sorry to learn that Turkey’s affairs are not going 
well. 

God protect you I 

Be assured, Your Excellency, of my highest consideration. 

Th.H. 

The man mentioned in the letter to the Sultan as to be obtained 
is Gottheil. 

In French in the original. 



1182 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

October 8, Vienna 

I have been to Pest to see Vdmb^ry, induced him to write a 
storm-and-stress letter to the Sultan and then go down there him- 
self. 

I am writing to Nuri to make that scoundrel Izzet favorably 
disposed to us:* 

Your Excellency: 

Our concerns are not progressing, and neither are those of 
Turkey. 

I believe it would be useful to seek out Izzet Bey and bring him 
round to a more active attitude. Izzet Bey’s remarkable intelligence 
would be very valuable to us. And since he already knows from you 
that my gratitude can be relied upon, it seems to me that he will 
listen to you again with pleasure. 

You will need certain sums before Ramadan, won’t you? 

If you will permit me to give you some advice: go to see Izzet 
Bey as soon as possible, personally, and speak to him in the way you 
know so well. 

Anticipating the pleasure of hearing from you, I beg Your Ex- 
cellency to accept this expression of my friendship and high 
esteem. 


H. 

P.S. I have seen Professor V. recently. He intends to go to Con- 
stantinople, having serious things in the offing in Europe to com- 
municate. The bearer of this letter knows nothing about its con- 
tents. 

October 8, 1901 


October 23, Vienna 

Nothing from Constantinople. Only a few financial agents are 
approaching me with dubious loan offers. 

• In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1183 

The “October Conferences,” aimless babble, are over. I was so 
disgusted that I made no entries in this book at all. With a doleful 
outcry the Bank was made “capable of action,” but it is not sup- 
posed to undertake anything. Actually, it is best this way, for we 
don’t have a single capable businessman. 

With all these annoyances I am turning back to literature and 
am now rewriting my Solon in Lydien as a drama. 

# * * 

Yesterday I saw Koerber about permission to accept my Meji- 
diye. We took the occasion to chat for a brief hour. He again beefed 
tome about being tired of office. He has to toil away while others 
are “drawing the big salaries, eating like pigs, drinking like fish, 
and despairing of the state. That’s the best job: Despairer of the 
State — you really fatten up on it.” 

He also beefed about Austria’s backwardness. All you have to 
do to see it is to take a train trip. “If I take the Orient Express, it’s 
packed in Germany. The minute you cross the border, life stops. 
Just look at those station namesl One of ’em’s called Grieskirchen. 
Then you come to one called Ried, and there’s a dog sleepin’.” 

In short, his beefing was amusing and typically Austrian. He 
invited me to visit him often. A quoi bon? [What’s the good of it]? 

He didn’t evince too much enthusiasm about giving permission 
to wear the Mejidiye order, but didn’t say anything definite. It was 
just curious that he already knew that I had been given the Grand 
Cordon. 

To think that he keeps that sort of thing in his head. 

* * * 

November 1, Vienna 

Letter to that dastard Crespi, to whom I am tired of sending 
1.000 francs each month: * 

Dear Sir: 

Despite his incontestably high intelligence, 363 doesn’t realize 
his situation, which is as bad as can be. Otherwise he would have 

* In French in the original. 


1184 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

sent for me, because I am the only one who can be useful to him 
Under these circumstances it is truly not worthwhile to take any 
further steps, and I assure you that I have a good mind to break off 
all relations. All the same, and in view of the pleasant relations 
I have had with you, I wish to send you starting now 500 francs 
per month for your correspondence. However, I would ask you 
to write me at least once a week and to bring to my attention any- 
thing that may be of interest to me. 

I have written to 345 to speak with 125. You and 345 have told me 
that 1 25 received a sum at the time of my visit down there, and I 
don t understand why I haven't had any response. 

Kindly remember me to our fine mutual friend. I am sure that 
he regrets not having been able to do anything. 

Very cordially yours, 
Herel. 


Letter to the Sultan: * 

Sire: 

I have the honor to remind Y.I.M. of my respectful letter of 
September 23, in which I had predicted exactly the painful events 
which have just occurred during these last few days. This mis- 
fortune could have been avoided if Y.I.M. had done me the honor 
of listening to my loyal advice. Other misfortunes are coming, and 
the remedy for them lies only in the straightening out of the 
financial situation. 

May I be permitted to say that I am still ready to devote myself 
to that task. 

When it pleases Y.I.M. to appeal to my humble capabilities I 
shall make haste to organize the necessary measures — be it today, 
tomorrow, in six months. Y.I.M. may always count on my devotion. 

I have, Sire, the honor to be 

Y.I.M. 's most humble and obedient servant, 
Herzl. 


• In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1185 
Covering letter to Ibrahim:* 


Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a letter to 
H I M. Unfortunately my predictions, based on reliable informa- 
tion, have been realized. 

And it is not over. There is only one way of escaping from these 
difficulties — I have indicated it to H.I.M. 

Hoping that you are in good health, I offer Your Excellency my 
high esteem and devotion. 


Dr. Th.H. 


November 8 


Letter to the Grand Duke of Baden: 

Most Illustrious Grand Duke, 

Most Gracious Prince and Lord: 

When M. Constans was appointed ambassador to Constanti- 
nople, I permitted myself to write Your Royal Highness the follow- 
ing, under date of : [Insert] 

The events have proved me right. Unless I am mistaken, the 
Near Eastern question is now entering its final stage. The turn of 
the day, however, is evidently against Germany’s interests; and yet 
the German government will not easily decide to take a stronger 
stand, because a world conflagration might result. That French 
financier has rather accurately calculated this. 

But the question is whether Germany would not nevertheless, 
under cover and without committing herself perceptibly, like to 
prevent a resuscitation of the dormant French protectorate over 
Syria and Palestine with all its political and economic conse- 
quences. 

The Zionist movement exists and can be used for this purpose. 
When quite some time ago I was waved away after an entree en 
In French in the original. 



1186 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

matiere [beginning] which had aroused hopes in me, I understood 
and did not make a sound. It was a heavy blow for us, for the 
financiers whom our movement — alas! — needs withdraw when 
no tangible results are forthcoming. Their pledges were then and 
are now contingent on the achievement of certainties, such as the 
German protectorate, for instance, would have been. 

Later I succeeded in approaching the Sultan directly. He re- 
ceived me well, as I had the honor to report to Your Royal High- 
ness in person at Karlsruhe last May. However, he is timid and irre- 
solute. He needs counsel and a push. 

Someone would have to tell him: “Give the Zionists what they 
need and they will raise the money for you with which you can 
get rid of the French!” 

The Jews, particularly the moneyed Jews, are a practical people. 
I have them when I have something reliable in my hands. 

If German policy is willing to help us with this, it will acquire, 
together with our gratitude, a right for future times and will ex- 
clude the dangerous influence of a power that may become ex- 
pansionist. On the basis of past actions I may be permitted to point 
out that I am loyal and discreet and do not disappoint confidence 
placed in me. It is an old, steadfast thought of mine that, God 
willing, we shall reach our goal with the aid of the rising Protestant 
power. 

Today it is practically forgotten that H.M. the German Kaiser 
for a time favored our movement with his most gracious interest. 
If due caution were exercised, any harmful stir could be avoided. 
Details could be discussed later — provided that the German gov- 
ernment is minded to look further into the matter which I am 
herewith respectfully submitting to Your Royal Highness. Should 
I be ordered to go to H.M. the Kaiser, I can so arrange it that 
absolutely no one will find out about it. 

Respectfully commending myself to the oft-proven, most 
gracious benevolence of Your Royal Highness, I remain, with 
deepest gratitude and devotion, 


Dr. Th. H. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1187 

November g 

The picture in the Orient has changed so completely since yes- 
terday that I am not sending off the letter to the Grand Duke. 
France has received satisfaction all along the line and is withdraw- 
ing, something that she had previously pledged the Powers to do. 
Consequently neither Germany nor England is going to do any- 
thing for us. Hence any demarche [intervention] is superfluous. 

Maisje songe [But I am a dreamer]. Since action on the part of 
France would have an effect favorable for us because of the reper- 
cussion it would have, we should in future work toward having 
French aspirations emerge in Syria and Palestine. 

A creuser [To be explored] 1 


December 19, Vienna 

I have written my Congress speech — more of an egg dance than 
ever before — and must now try to parry in advance the contrecoup 
[counter-stroke] it may elicit from Constantinople. I must demand 
some concession from the Sultan, so that, if worst comes to worst, 
he will not grant it to me. Given his character, he isn’t likely to 
follow an amiable letter with a blunt refusal. 


Sire: * 


(Dated December 20th). 


I have the honor to recall myself once more to Y.I.M.’s gracious 
memory. Since I had the signal honor of being received in 
audience, I take the liberty of observing respectfully that there 
might be some use, from a financial as well as a political point of 
View , m making known to the Jews of all countries the good and 
generous feelings that Y.I.M. cherishes in his fatherly heart for the 
persecuted Jewish people. An opportunity to do so is now offered. 
Toward the end of this month the annual Zionist Congress meets 

m French in the original. 


1188 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

at Basel to deliberate on the fate, alas! so sad, of the Jews of the 
whole world. I shall preside at the gathering, and I hope to take 
advantage of this opportunity to remark briefly upon the glorious 
reigning Caliph’s kindness to the Jews. The effect can only be 
favorable. But how much greater would be the general impression 
if Y.I.M. deigned to have a telegram of good wishes sent to me as 
a reply to the telegram of respectful, loyal homage that I shall have 
the honor to send at the opening of the Congress. This would be 
the happiest preparation for that day when Y.I.M. in your lofty 
wisdom shall see fit to call upon the grateful services of the Jews 
of the whole world. 

Sire, I have the honor to be 

Y.I.M. s most humble and obedient servant, 
Dr.Th.H. 


Covering letter to Ibrahim: * 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a letter for 
H.I.M. the Sultan. 

Permit me, at the same time, to ask your advice. 

I wish to make a small gift to H.I.M., a surprise that I hope will 
please him, for I believe that it doesn’t yet exist in Turkey. It is a 
typewriter with Turkish characters. I have ordered it from Amer- 
ica, and a professor of Oriental languages at the University in New 
York is supervising the accuracy of the production of the type. 
The manufacture of it is very complicated. They have already been 
working on it for some time. But according to the latest word the 
job is approaching completion, and I expect the machine in two or 
three weeks. The first Oriental typewriter shall be tried out 
for the first time in Europe at His Excellency Mahmud Nedim 
Bey s. And after that? Should I send it through the Embassy — or 
• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1189 
should I bring it to Yildiz Kiosk myself? That is the advice I am 

askingfor. . 

I beg Y.E. to accept the assurance of my high consideration and 

sincere devotion. 


Th.H. 


December 25, on the train, approaching Buchs 
Telegram to Ibrahim: * 

To His Excellency, etc. 

At the opening moment of the Zionist Congress, which today 
brings together in Basel representatives of the Jewish people from 
all countries, I beg Y.E. to place at the foot of the Imperial throne 
this acknowledgment of deep devotion and of the gratitude which 
all Jews feel for the benevolence always shown them by H.I.M. the 
Sultan. 

With high esteem, 


Dr.Th.H. 

President of the Zionist Congress, Basel. 


January 5, 1902 

On the train, past Venice, homeward bound for Vienna. 

The fifth Congress. 

The change in the years and in my own self is shown by the fact 
that only today am I writing down my impressions of the Congress. 

From the evening of my arrival, on December 25, to the moment 
of my departure on New Year’s Eve, I got into one discussion after 
another. Sessions from 10 o’clock in the morning until 4 o’clock 
the next morning. In the interim, quarrels to be made up, insults 
to be smoothed over, etc. 

On the morning of the first day I sent the wire to the Sultan, and 

In French in the original. 



1190 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

on the evening of the second the answer came. Until then I had 
been trembling. Up to that time he could still have denied even 
the beginning of our relationship. Mais il donnait dedans en plein 
[But in it he put that right in plain sight]. With this wire, issued by 
the Basel telegraph office, my situation is certified and regular- 
ized. 

Once again, rode across Lake Constance. * 

From then on I was calm. 

Incidentally, my Congress bunch did not rate the wire at its full 
value. I Is ne comprennent rien [They understand nothing]. They 
overestimate small things and value big things lightly. 

But it’s enough that I know it. 

The official letter of welcome from the Basel city government 
was worth less politically, but of incomparably greater value 
morally. 

This letter gave me the idea of trying to have the National Fund 
set up a corporate body in Basel. I sent the good Basel A.C. member 
Joel Weil to Dr. David, the head of the city government, to inquire 
if this would be unwelcome to them. No, he had no objections. 

The following day I called on him in order to thank him. Dr. 
David, a fine, serious-minded man, was greatly interested in every- 
thing, listened to me for an hour, and said that Zionism was some- 
thing exalted. He was glad that this great, beautiful idea had 
found a home in Basel. 

In contrast, how shameful and petty was the attitude of the 
Community Jews of Basel. It is true, this time they had permitted 
donations to the National Fund, but when Wolffsohn, in accord- 
ance with a possibility regarding the Torah reading, wanted to 
have 30 people called up, Dreyfus, the head of the congregation, 
refused, saying: 

“No special privileges!” 

Therefore only myself, Moser, Montefiore, and Wolffsohn were 
able to make a donation. 

How the Fund fared in the Congress is a matter of record. From 
time to time I was absent; then Tschlenow, egged on by Boden- 

• See note on p. 1679. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1191 

heimer, messed up the whole thing. They accepted the draft “pro- 
visionally.” Then who would have made a donation? I came back, 
listened to the nonsense, annulled the decision, and put the draft 
through the way we need it. 

The most important thing was the organization pro futuro [for 
the future]. I particularly wanted to break the iron rings which are 
already forming in some countries. The first “leaders” monopolize 
the national committees, and from this there results a certain dis- 
inclination to belong. However, we must keep positions of honor 
open. I believe the new organization will do its duty and strengthen 
the Inner A.C. 

The Russians Bemstein-Kohan, Ussishkin, etc. immediately 
sensed what was going on and put up resistance. But they can’t 
make any objections if I want the federation from below, “from 
the people,” as they always say. 

I also put a stop, once and for all, to Bemstein-Kohan’s mail 
headquarters. 

Difficulties were also made by the gentlemen of the Greater A.C. 
over the question of the baksheesh which I had always had paid out 
by Wolffsohn, Kremenezky, Kokesch, etc. against a proper receipt. 

Why, some of them acted as though I were inducing them to 
commit fraud. The Bank directors, too, weren’t keen on approving 
what we had spent on behalf of the Bank for the sake of acquiring 
the Charter (receipt to Wolffsohn from N.) Of course, if I had in- 
sisted they would have given their consent; but then it would have 
been something “secret” and would naturally have been blabbed 
about promptly. In the face of this cowardice and asininity I had no 
other choice but to throw the whole thing in the lap of the Con- 
gress. For this I used an opposition man, Farbstein, whose resolu- 
tion I used as the point of departure. See the protocol. 

Naturally everything went through d’emblee [directly]. 

The members of the Board of Directors and of the Council 
didn t understand any of what was going on and then breathed a 
sigh of relief. 

It made the strongest impression on Kokesch, whose alarmingly 


1192 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

empty A.C. treasury I replenished at one stroke. He raises his eye- 
brows when, e.g., I want to have a propaganda issue printed, and 
presents me with an accounting of every subvention given to an 
agent. But now he was impressed by my getting money for propa- 
ganda again. 

Few details. 

Nordau made a speech that was brilliant, but imprudent in 
places — his best to date. 

The warning against early marriages and too much studying is 
something truly valuable and will bear fruit. 

Zangwill spoke wittily; but while Nordau was translating his 
speech, the idea came to me in a flash not to have the Congress take 
a vote on the I. C. A. 

I believe this was a good thing. Otherwise people would have 
said the next day that Zionism is only a raid on Hirsch’s millions. 

In the same spirit I rejected a proposal made me by the Russian 
exaltados [extreme enthusiasts] Syrkin and Buchmil: to put on mass 
demonstrations against the I.C.A. in the big cities. I had Oskar 
Marmorek and others take down a memorandum about my rejec- 
tion. 

What else? 

I was glad when the Congress was over, and escaped from the 
demonstrations as soon as possible. 

That sort of thing gives me less and less pleasure. 

* * * 

Oh yes, another thing, something that distressed and vexed me a 
great deal. 

When the Sultan’s answering telegram became known through 
the papers, I received wires from Geneva and Lausanne from meet- 
ings of students of all nationalities, particularly Armenians, Bul- 
garians, Macedonians, Russians, Poles, etc., expressing their mepris 
[contempt] and indignation on account of my telegram to the sul- 
tan rouge [blood-stained Sultan]. 

However, this will probably do me good with the Sultan. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1193 

January 9 , Vienna 

For once that scoundrel Crespi sends me some interesting infor- 
mation: The ambassador at Berlin — my “friend” Ahmed Tewfik 
—has sent the Sultan an accusing wire about my Basel speech, as 
well as another telegram asking for authorization to disclaim my 
words officially. 

I hope that my advance notice has done its work with Abdul 
Hamid and will cause him to ignore the denunciation of his Berlin 
servant. 

The protest demonstration of the Armenian and other wild 
students may stand me in good stead too. 


January 11 , Vienna 

Cowen informs that he is again making efforts to get a meeting 
with Cecil Rhodes for me. The robber raider Dr. Jameson is acting 
as the intermediary on the Rhodes side. However, on account of 
my bread-givers, who might become angry, I cannot now risk a 
trip that promises nothing certain. Therefore I wired that I could 
come only if Rhodes were seriously interested in the matter. In 
order to initiate this, I am sending the following memorandum to 
London, to be translated by Zangwill and transmitted by Cowen: 

Mr. Cecil Rhodes: 

For some months mutual friends have been trying on my behalf 
to arrange a meeting between us. At the moment, however, I am so 
inordinately busy that it would hardly be possible for me to 
come to London, unless I knew in advance that you took a serious 
interest in the matter. This, to be sure, would be a sufficiently 
strong reason to travel, for I need you. In fact, all things considered, 
you are the only man who can help me now. Of course, I am not 
concealing from myself the fact that you are not likely to do so. The 
probability is perhaps one in a million, if this can be expressed in 
figures at all. 

But it is a big — some say, too big — thing. T o me it does not seem 


1194 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

too big for Cecil Rhodes. This sounds like flattery; however it 
does not reside in the words, but in the offer. If you participate 
then you are the man. If you don’t, then I have simply made a mis- 
take. 

You are being invited to help make history. That cannot 
frighten you, nor will you laugh at it. It is not in your accustomed 
line; it doesn’t involve Africa, but a piece of Asia Minor, not Eng- 
lishmen, but Jews. 

But had this been on your path, you would have done it yourself 
by now. 

How, then, do I happen to turn to you, since this is an out-of-the- 
way matter for you? How indeed? Because it is something colonial, 
and because it presupposes understanding of a development which 
will take twenty or thirty years. There are visionaries who look past 
greater spaces of time, but they lack a practical sense. Then again 
there are practical people, like the trust magnates in America, but 
they lack political imagination. But you, Mr. Rhodes, are a vi- 
sionary politician or a practical visionary. You have already demon- 
strated this. And what I want you to do is not to give me or lend me 
a few guineas, but to put the stamp of your authority on the Zion- 
ist plan and to make the following declaration to a few people who 
swear by you: I, Rhodes, have examined this plan and found it 
correct and practicable. It is a plan full of culture, excellent for the 
group of people for whom it is directly designed, not detrimental 
to the general progress of mankind, and quite good for England, 
for Greater Britain. If you and your associates supply the requested 
financial aid for this, you will, in addition to these satisfactions, 
have the satisfaction of making a good profit. For what is being 
asked for is money. 

What is the plan? To settle Palestine with the homecoming 
Jewish people. 

When I started it 6 years ago, I was brutally derided. I disdained 
the scoffers and went ahead. In these 6 years the Jews in all parts 
of the world have been shaken up. At five Congresses there has 
been effected an organization with thousands of associations all 
over the world. The Zionists obey a mot d’ordre [command] from 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1195 

Manchuria to Argentina, from Canada to the Cape and New Zea- 
land The greatest concentration of our adherents is in Eastern Eu- 
rope' Of the five million Jews in Russia, surely four million swear 
by our program. We have party organs in all civilized languages. 
Every single day there are mass meetings of our people in the most 
diverse places. Yet our demands are so formulated that no govern- 
ment has proceeded against them as yet, not even the Russian gov- 
ernment. As early as 1898 I won the German Kaiser himself for the 
cause. He received me in a lengthy audience at Yildiz Kiosk in Con- 
stantinople, in the presence of Biilow. Later he officially received 
me in Jerusalem with four of my associates, as the representatives of 
Zionism. I have transmitted a detailed memorandum to the Czar 
through another ruler, and thereupon the Czar bestowed his 
benevolent neutrality upon us. Last May I brought the matter be- 
fore the Sultan in a long conference, and he granted me his grace. 
In England we have countless Christian friends, in the Church as 
well as in the press, and in the House of Commons there are 37 (?) 
members who have promised to support Zionism. 

This cursory apergu [survey] of our political situation may suf- 
fice. 

And this movement, which has had such an unprecedented de- 
velopment in 6 years, vainly cries out for money. Why? Because the 
big Jewish financiers are against us. They are afraid, they have no 
imagination, they lend money only on dead pledges. 


January 20, Vienna 

This letter to Rhodes remains in the ink bottle for the time be- 
ing, because Cowen reports that Zangwill wants to organize a 
financial group with the aid of Lord Suffield and is requesting in- 
structions. I am writing to Zangwill and Cowen: 

My dear friends Zangwill and Joe: 

You ask for a presentation of the financial plan. Here it is. I 
won t even remind you again how prudently you must scrutinize 
ever yone you talk to. The greatest harm can be caused by indiscre- 


1196 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

lions. I can’t give you a list o£ every fire that you should avoid All 
I say to you is: Don’t get burned! 

And now to the point. 

It is a matter of a financial operation which is often talked about 
in the papers, like the sea serpent. It was last seen in French waters 
The former Minister of Finance, Rouvier, is said to be hunting it' 
or to have hunted it. The operation is known by the name Unifica- 
tion de la Dette Ottomane [Consolidation of the Turkish Debtl 
You will find enclosed a tabulation of the dette as of March 
1901. Since then there have been various changes in the rate of 

exchange. We will go into this, as into all details, only when the 
principle has been accepted. 

Cohn (in our earlier code, E) has the most ardent desire to get 
t is dette ' into his power. For the administration de la dette [ad- 
ministration of the debt] is his greatest sorrow and his main mis- 
fortune. The administrative expenses are insanely high, and yet he 
isn t the master in his house. He promised me anything I want if 

I liberate him from it. 

The nominal amount of the dette is approximately 85 million 
jxiunds sterling. Let us assume the exchange value as about 22 mil- 
on pounds sterling. These figures may serve as a basis for discus- 
sion although they actually change from day to day. Please point 
out from the start that the detailed calculations will be supplied by 
an expert (which, as you know, I am not) as soon as my plan has 

een accepted in principle by the group which you are to create in 
London. 

I shall name this expert only to you now, my friends. It is M. 
enno Reitlinger of Paris, who is himself worth a few million 
ancs, is a good Zionist and completely devoted to me. 
or the sake of clarity I will now divide the plan into three parts. 
1) the acquisition of the dette, 2) the acquisition of the Charter, 
3) the renumeration of the group. — 

1) The Acquisition of the Dette. 

This requires the formation of a financially strong group whose 
ere it is good for 22-25 million pounds sterling, but which by no 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1197 

means needs to put up this amount. The poor two-bit investors 
usually don’t understand the conditions of high finance. 

One lets only a small amount of money ring on the table — large 
amounts one doesn’t pay at all, one only remits them. Of course, 
one has to have it, i.e., be good for it. 

Now you will understand the remarks I made in my earlier 
letters: that R. (C in our code) can actually handle the matter 
sans coup ferir et sans bourse delier [without stirring a finger or 
paying a penny]. He probably owns part of the dette already 
through the houses affiliated with him (and their clientele). The 
second part, which is in the hands of an organized group (accord- 
ing to my reports, the Protestant Ottoman Bank group), he can 
obtain through an option. He can have the third part bought up 
on the stock-exchanges rather inconspicuously. 

Cecil’s people could do it, too, although with greater difficulty, 
i.e., more expensively, more conspicuously, and more slowly. 

But the acquisition would be hardest of all for a group such as 
you plan to organize. The difficulty would be, in the first place, that 
the larger the group, i.e., the smaller the share of an individual, 
the more cash would have to be emphasized. Secondly, the trouble 
would be that with the number of participants, the danger of peo- 
ple being indiscreet and spoiling things would grow in geometrical 
progression. But if no other way were left to us, we would simply 
have to follow this one. 

According to the estimate of my expert, I figure the group’s cash 
investment at about 10%, that is, 2.2 to 2.5 million pounds sterling. 
Once this fund exists, purchases can be started. I won’t go into the 
stock-exchange part of this operation now, although I have had 
it explained to me in detail. I will only mention briefly that it is 
possible to have the purchased items carried over until the end of 
the entire operation, so that the group has cash responsibility only 
for the difference between the proceeds from interest and the con- 
tango.* Another important facilitation is the fact that Cohn would 
support the operation of the group in every way. In fact, I believe 

Translator’s Note: Contango: a premium paid by a buyer of stock to the seller 
to P°»tpone its delivery. 


1198 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZI 

that he himself would take a share. It is common knowledge that 
he has a huge private fortune; and considering the good terms I am 
on with him, I could probably induce him to do so, once things 
actually start rolling. 

However, the operations of the group would take at least a year, 
if not longer, because more rapid activity on the stock-exchanges 
would make rates rise enormously. This is the one reason why even 
a financial artist like Rouvier cannot easily manage the matter. The 
second reason follows later. 

Let us now span a period of time whose duration depends on the 
circumstances, the interest rate, the political and financial situa- 
tion. Let us assume the operation has been carried through, i.e., the 
dette is in the possession of the group, with the exception of a small 
remainder, quantite negligeable [a negligible amount]. What 
then? 

Then we shall enter the second phase. 

2) The Acquisition of the Charter. 

We shall receive the Charter for the certified announcement that 
our group is in possession of the dette. In saying this I am certainly 
not basing myself on Cohn’s promise alone — I am not that naive — 
but on his vital interests. He will have to give us the Charter then if 
he does not want to remain in his present situation, i.e., going to 
ruin. 

The owners of the dette will appoint its administrators. Cohn’s 
desire, which he spelled out for me, is to make this administration 
an authority which will obey him , function inexpensively, and take 
care of the administration of all of his resources. But in that case it 
must not consist of enemies and foreigners, but of his people. We 
shall hand the administration over to him (for a specified period) 
in return for his giving us the Charter. We shall make use of the 
Charter, and the utilization of the Charter — as Cohn knows before- 
hand will serve to liberate him from the dette completely, not 
just for the specified period. 

How will the utilization of the Charter which is to be granted 
to the Jewish Colonial Trust be accomplished? On the basis of the 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1199 

Charter, the Trust will found a big Land Company* with a capital 
of 5 million pounds sterling. I don’t want to rely on Seligmann’s 
pledge, who promised to get together Montagu and others for the 
Land Company with 5 mill. pd. stg. as soon as I have the Charter, 
any more than I want to rely on the pledge, which I have in writ- 
ing, from the I.C.A. president Leven who promised us all the re- 
sources of the I.C.A. as soon as we have the Charter. I expect the 5 
mill. pd. stg. for the Land Company from a public campaign on 
the basis of the acquired Charter. 

The Land Company, for its part will complete the operation of 
the group. The Land Company will take the dette over from the 


group. 

3) The Remuneration of the Group. 

You see, the group is not to buy up the dette in order to keep it, 
but in order to re-sell it, and at a profit. But this profit must be fixed 
beforehand, in an option given to the J.C.T. to take over the bonds 
at such and such an amount in excess of the average purchase price. 

Thus the group arranges for the buyer. 

And here is the second reason why Rouvier, who has quite dif- 
ferent resources and assistants at his disposal, cannot easily handle 
the operation. He has no buyer in view. For, once he has the dette, 
who is to take it off his hands? Sure, the Turkish government. But 
to enable it to buy anything, someone must go security for it. And 
no one will do so unless it accepts the guardianship of the adminis- 
tration, as up to now. But then the situation of the Turks will be 
the same as now. 


Therefore only a few people around Cohn are interested in such 
an arrangement; he himself isn’t. 

But now the question arises for the group whether the Land 

Company, which doesn’t exist yet, will really relieve it of the dette 
again. 


Yesl You see, the Land Company will have to have the dette. 
B will need it so badly that it would have to pay any price; and for 
this reason the group’s profit shall be fixed in advance, even though 
wgement [generously], in keeping with the tremendous service. 

In English in the original. 


1200 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

The Land Company, with a capital of 5 mill, pd. stg., in posses- 
sion of the Charter (which will have to include the Crown Lands) 
and as the entrepreneur of Palestine and Syria, which will rapidly 
rise in value because of the mass settlement, will be strong enough 
financially to take over the dette from the group. I have worked out 
the financial plan for this, too, but don’t want to put it down here 
because this might make the whole plan more complicated than it 
actually is. It will be evident to everyone that such a Company will 
be strong enough to take over the dette. 

But what if the Land Company doesn’t materialize in the first 
place? What then? 

Then the Group can either liquidate itself, and with gradual 
selling the rates of exchange will again be brought to the present 
level if, as may be expected, it has risen in the course of the opera- 
tion. In this eventuality, too, the Group will not lose anything, be- 
cause as a predominant power it will dictate the prices. 

At worst, then, it will be a successful big stock-exchange opera- 
tion for the Group. 

Or! Or the Group can offer its entire bond holdings to a 
Great Power for sale. I believe there would then be four buyers: 
England, France, Germany, and Russia. 

Therefore it isn t likely that even a penny* will be lost. Instead, 
the Group may make a big profit even in this case. — 

This, my friends, is the plan in general outline. 

I think that Zangwill should first of all give Lord Suffield the de- 
tailed plans and try with his aid to win over R. Possibly Suffield — 
or the Bishop of Ripon? — ought to induce the King to influence R. 
For it is undoubtedly in England’s interest to gain this important 
sphere of influence in this way, without a war or expense. R. ought 
to help not as a Jew, but as an Englishman!* If, incidentally, he un- 
derstands the signs of the British Brothers League * he must realize 

that it is high time to come to our aid. Every day lost will take its 
toll. 


In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1201 

I must leave it to your careful judgment to what extent it is ap- 
propriate to exert an influence on Cecil through James — not 
through Maxim. Another related question is to what extent Engi- 
neer Kessler, our Transvaal member of the A.C., who is in London 
now, should be brought into action. Kessler has offered to win over 
the big South Africans, together with Sir Francis Montefiore. 

In this case, as well as in the creation of a group including Lipton 
and others, the very greatest caution is indicated. This plan is to be 
handled like a photographic plate. It must be worked on only by 
red light. The red light is the discretion of men of honor. Everyone 
who is in on the secret and later does not collaborate is a menace. 
For during the operation he can gamble against the Group on the 
stock-exchange, or induce others to do so. Therefore, alas!, R. is the 
best, perhaps the only, key to the situation. 

If you succeed in persuading R. or a Group, I shall come to Lon- 
don immediately after receiving word. For R. I won’t need a finan- 
cial expert. For the Group I would bring Reitlinger along. 

If you succeed with this project, my dear friends, you will have 
rendered a great service to our immortal cause. 


Your devoted 
Benjamin. 


Jan. 23 , Vienna 

In the Paris propaganda sheet Pro Armenia Bernard Lazare has 
published a mean, malicious article against me, on the occasion of 
the exchange of Congress telegrams with the Sultan. 

This is probably far from unwelcome to the I.C.A., whose direc- 
tor, Meyerson, is an intimate friend of his. 

Quel interet peut-il bien avoir en dehors du beau geste de de- 
fendre les Armeniens [What interest can he possibly have, apart 
from the nice gesture, in defending the Armenians]? 


1202 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Jan. 23 

The weekly Die Zeit is to become a daily in competition with the 
N. Fr. Pr. 

Consternation at the N. Fr. Pr. I should like to use the occasion to 
get the N . Fr. Pr. into my hands. For several days now I have been 
discussing the rising danger with Benedikt. However, he is or acts 
very optimistic. Because of this I can’t manage to find an oppor- 
tunity for a proposition. 

Every day I enter his office intending to say to him: Do you want 
to sell me your shares? He is so plucky that I seem ridiculous to my- 
self in this and am afraid of being curtly rejected. 

Yesterday Bacher came into my room. He, in contrast, is de- 
jected. It’s just the other way around: I thought that Bacher 
wouldn’t worry about the danger and that Benedikt would, a great 
deal. 

I haven t made up my mind yet how to present my proposal — 
like the bashful lover in a comedy. 


January 24, Vienna 

Zionism was the Sabbath of my life. 

* * # 

I believe my effectiveness as a leader may be attributed to the fact 
that I, who as a man and a writer have had so many faults, made so 
many mistakes, and done so many foolish things, have been pure of 
heart and utterly selfless in the Zionist cause. 

* * * 

Strange how far my thoughts wander when I sometimes wake up 
too early in the morning. Then I solve many questions of the day 
and have a presentiment of some eternal ones. 

This morning I reflected on the human body about which we 
still know so little. The medical men have the professional blind- 
ness of hardened practitioners. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1203 

What a wonderful machine the human body is! A chemical 
laboratory, a powerhouse. Every movement, voluntary as well as in- 
stinctive, full of riddles and wonders. What gases and liquids are 
produced here, harmful and useful ones! This is why I believe in 
the serum theory. Just as it produces toxins, the animal body evi- 
dently also produces antidotes which will surely be discovered as 
time progresses. 


January 25, Vienna 

Yesterday I read the conclusion of Oppenheimer’s “Judische 
Siedlungen” [“Jewish Settlements”] in the Welt. The final appeal, 
the comparison of the experiment of a Rahaline with the electric 
experimental railroad Berlin-Zossen struck me, and I immediately 
decided to carry out Oppenheimer’s experiment. I wrote him so at 
once, but enjoined him to silence for the time being. First I have to 
prepare the ground — the A.C. and the Bank; then, too, the I.C.A. 
with its greater resources would beat me to it. For they would not 
do it of their own accord, but they would do it in order to crush me 
and eliminate me from competition. As the scene of action I desig- 
nated Egyptian Palestine to Oppenheimer, on the other side of the 
“Brook of Egypt,” because there I shall be dealing with the English 
government and thus have no difficulties. Part of the thema proban- 
dum [proposition to be tested] is the climate, and this Oppen- 
heimer overlooks. I still haven’t made up my mind whether I shall 
make the matter a national affair, i.e., use it for Zionist propaganda 
purposes — which would have the disadvantage of creating settlers 
for display, and the advantage ut aliquid fecisse videamur [that we 
would appear to have done something] — or whether I shall get it 
started in all secrecy. 


January 28, Vienna 

Yesterday I spoke with Benedikt — but did not reach my goal. It 
was so hard to make the opening in the conversation. I found it by 



1204 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

quoting Dr. Ehrlich’s words: The bad part of it is that no one tells 
him (Ben.) the truth. 

“Tell it to me!” he said. 

“But you are about to leave, you’re hungry and tired!” 

“Doesn’t matter!” 

And sure enough, the impatient one had the patience to walk up 
and down with me in the Schwarzenberg Gardens for two hours. 
At home his soup was getting cold. We walked up and down in the 
Cour d’honneur [grand courtyard] of the Schwarzenberg Palace. 
Inside the Palace, behind the windows, they must have made fun of 
the two gesticulating Jews in the courtyard. He saw to it that he was 
always walking at my right, with the many about-faces. The boss, 
quoi [mind you]! But soon I didn’t swing around him — because of 
the presumed spectators — but turned about my own axis, so that I 
took turns walking on the right. 

And I told him about the danger the N.Fr.Pr. was in. However, 
the whole attack was directed against him personally. Bacher was 
not as hated as he, Benedikt. He listened to this and other things. 
At one point he even asked: And how would it be if I resigned? I 
answered: Then things would be better! 

Still, I was too cowardly to draw the final conclusion and make 
him a proposal. I was afraid of ruining my whole pessimistic argu- 
mentation by suddenly standing there as Monsieur Josse, I’or- 
fevre* 

To make up for it, I am now writing him: 

Dear Friend: 

Our conversation yesterday occupied me for a long time after- 
wards. So you yourself realize the seriousness of the situation. If I 
compare this with some of your occasional remarks about your 
fatigue, I am tempted to draw a conclusion. I am doing so in writ- 
ing, because I don’t want to get a primesautiere [spontaneous] an- 
swer. 

Translator s Note: "Mr. Josse, the Goldsmith," a character in MoIi£re’s V Amour 
Medectn (Love as a Physician). The phrase has since been used to designate an 
egotist who pursues his own selfish interests while pretending to give friendly advice 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1205 

Do you want to fight this battle, too, to the finish, like the earlier 
ones? Since I am not Monsieur Josse, I'orfevre, I am telling you sin- 
cerely that I believe in your success in this case, too. As I put it yes- 
terday: The Zeit isn’t going to knock the N. Fr. Pr. over — at most it 
will take off a piece of wall. The question is, do you feel like going 
through such years again? 

Should a real need for a rest be stirring within you — Dr. Bacher 
had such a need a long time ago, as he told me then — all you have 
to do is tell me so. I am a few years younger and feel equal to the 
task. As I told you on two previous occasions, I have friends who 
could make considerable funds available to me. I realize, of course, 
that the N. Fr. Pr. isn’t to be had for a song. Last year I already had a 
substantial sum at my disposal for this purpose. You will remember 
my father’s visit last February. 

Is your point of view still to refuse such an offer a limine [out of 
hand], or are you willing to discuss it? After all, I am not a stranger, 
but surely a part of the N. Fr. Pr. 

You are not expected to give me an answer today or tomorrow. 
None whatever is needed if you don’t even want to talk about it. 
After about a week I shall regard the matter as finished. 

With cordial regards, 


Sincerely yours, 
Herzl. 

I showed this letter to my parents, and when they thought it 
good, I sent it to Benedikt’s private residence after office hours. 


January 30 , Vienna 

Yesterday I was, despite everything, a bit excited when I got to 
the office. Of course, this was no longer the palpitation of my strug- 
gles in earlier years — when ever so often I felt fear in the big read- 
in g room before entering the office of my forbidding adversaries 
a nd employers. In those days I had to live in constant fear that they 


1206 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

would break me by way of punishment for my Zionist rebellion 
and make me a has-been. For it was clear that I would no longer 
have found employment anywhere else. 

But one gets accustomed even to fighting duels. Yesterday I 
laughed and only took a deep breath before stepping into Bacher’s 
room. Benedikt was with him. My entrance jetait un froid [cast a 
chill]. Bacher stared vacantly and, it seemed to me, irritably in my 
direction. Benedikt gave me a searching look over the Masses he 
wears for near-sightedness. 

Ilsne voulaient pas en avoir lair [They wanted to look as though 
nothing had happened] . 

We spoke a few words about today’s and tomorrow’s feuilletons. 
There was a trace of unsteadiness in my voice, and I think I was a 
bit flushed too. They evidently drew conclusions from my slight 
embarrassment. I, however, trudged out without a good-bye imme- 
diately after our business had been completed. 

At any rate, I have sent up my trial balloon. What will come of it 

on t know. My impression is that they don’t want to sell the 
N. Fr.Pr. or don’t credit me with having the money. 

This is the key to these two men: they don’t easily believe that 

someone may raise money (in large amounts)-because they wor- 
ship money. 


* * * 

Afterwards, while I was in my office catching up on the feuilleton 
material that had come in, I had another attack of brain anemia. I 
didn t mention it to anyone. My parents would find out and get ex- 
a ^ out It wouldn t make my wife any more loving either. 

ais f a m’emportera un jour [But that will finish me off some 
day]. 

I can picture death: a growing insufficiency of consciousness, the 
painful part being the very awareness of this fading away. 

I his morning I thought to myself: 

Life in the most favorable eventuality one leaves mourners. 
ie soon, I shall be mourned most of all by my parents, less 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1207 

by my children, who will be more consoled by their youth as well 

as by the entire J e wish people. 

A beautiful cortege [funeral procession]: The tragic, the lovely, 
and the exalted. 


February 5 , Vienna 

Yesterday evening I received the following wire from Yildiz: 

Dr. Th.H.,etc. 

Pour me fournir certaines explications sur vos affaires, je vous 
prie de venir immediatement a Constantinople [Kindly come to 
Constantinople immediately in order to provide me with certain 
explanations of your projects]. Ibrahim. 

I received the telegram just as my wife was taking to bed with a 
high temperature. 

In any event, immediatement [immediately] was out of the ques- 
tion. I sent for Kremenezky, made sure of his readiness to go along, 
and then telegraphed last night: * 

HisExc. Ibrahim Bey, Grand Master etc., Yildiz. 

I am at your disposal with the greatest pleasure; but to settle 
most pressing business before my departure will take three or four 
days. Therefore I could not leave before Saturday or Sunday. 
Kindly telegraph whether this suits you. Herzl. 

# * # 

This morning I wired Wellisch: 

Please inquire at Frankl (Ibrahim) factory (Yildiz) immediately 
whether I shall be dealing with Leopold (Sultan) himself or only 
with representative. Expecting clear wired reply. 

* * * 

At the same time I telegraphed Cowen that I have been sum- 
moned by Cohn and would like to take him along. This time 
' In French in the original. 



1208 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Cowen would be a more appropriate companion than Kreme- 
nezky, because he acts with more assurance and also because as an 
Englishman he enjoys tighter diplomatic protection. 

* « # 

The summons does not come at a time agreeable to me, 

1 ) because of the N. Fr. Pr. where there will perhaps be a row if I 
go away again after 4 weeks, 

2) because my mind isn’t quite at ease on account of the public 
discussion of the Charter, 

3) because we have no money as yet, 

4) because my nerves are on edge, 

5) because this isn’t a good time for traveling, 

6) because right now I wouldn’t know what to do with the Char- 
ter. 

But I must go. 

Certainly the matter is serious. Perhaps pleasantly serious, per- 
haps unpleasantly serious. 

The tone “me fournir des explications ” doesn’t sound exactly 
amiable. 

On the other hand, surely they can’t be so imprudent as to sum- 
mon me to reproach me. 

N or are they likely to risk a bold stroke. 

Accordingly, a favorable interpretation would seem to be indi- 
cated. 


I must write to Vdmbdry: 


February 5, Vienna 


February 4, at night 

My good Vambery bacsi: 

Upon returning home this evening I found an invitation from 
Cohn’s Ibrahim to come down “pour me fournir certaines expli ca ' 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1209 

tionssur vos affaires” The word “me" in the sentence refers to Ibra- 
him, not to Cohn. All that such a vague prospect opens up to me is 
a perspective of endless hours of waiting and empty talk, which I, 
as a matter of fact* man, am not partial to. Nevertheless, I an- 
swered that I was at Ibrahim’s disposal with pleasure, but that I 
needed some time to put my most pressing affairs in order. You see, 
before I leave I should like to get some further details. For I don’t 
want to go riding around to no purpose whatever. 

As soon as I hear further from Cohn, I shall let you know; and if 
I go, I shall naturally stop off to see my bacsi. 

Be embraced by 


Your devoted 
Dori. 


February 8 

With all these things on my mind, with my wife sick, yesterday 
I had to write a feuilleton about Japanese actors. 

It reminds me of the time when I was writing The Jewish State in 
Paris and on top of that had to go to the Chamber and report on a 
session which was justly forgotten the next day. 

And the feuilleton is even a pretty good one. 

# * # 

To my regret Cowen, whom I had invited by telegram, has 
begged off. I have to go with Kremenezky, who is a fine man but an 
inefficient one. 


* * * 

Day before yesterday the following wire came from Wellisch (in 
code): 

In English in the original. 


1210 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Ibrahim acted on orders from Sultan, also transmitted in my 
presence your message directed to him. 

* # # 

Yesterday evening there came this wire from Yildiz: Veuillez 

effectuer votre depart [Kindly arrange your departure]. Ibrahim 

# * * 

If my wife is better, I shall leave on the Orient Express tonight. 


February 10 , Vienna 

A contretemps [mishap]. 

The rail connection to Constantinople has been cut near Philip- 
popolis by a flood. 

Therefore I had to telegraph Dr. Wellisch yesterday to make my 
excuses to Ibrahim for my non-appearance and tell him that I 
would leave as soon as the track was clear, on Wednesday at the 
latest, via Constantsa. 

This delay may also make it possible for Cowen to come along; 
he is quicker and more efficient than Kremenezky, in addition to 
being a British subject and having an ambassador to protect him. 

Cowen s answer, which I requested, has still not come. 

* # * 

\ esterday I had lunch with Eulenburg, who was charming and 
did make mention of my trip to Constantinople, but didn’t ask me 
about it. 

We spoke only about generalities and about my Solon in Lydien, 
which he thinks fine. He intends to send it to the Kaiser. 

Today I am asking him by letter whether it would not be advis- 
able for me to read the play to the Kaiser in Berlin after my return. 

Who knows, maybe I would have something interesting to tell 
him, too. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1211 

If I go, I shall squirm my way out of it again at the N. Fr. Pr. sans 
crier gare [without warning]. I shall merely write the publishers 
a few words: I must leave suddenly for Constantinople and hope to 
be back again in a few days. 


February 1 1 , Vienna 

Today I had some pleasantly reassuring news which no longer 
makes me regard my trip as a risky undertaking. Vdmbery writes 
he has been informed that the Hejaz Railroad is involved. Wel- 
lisch writes Ibrahim has told him that the Imperial summons has 
been issued in the interest of our affairs as well as those of the 
government. 

Also, yesterday I received a wire saying that Ibrahim considered 
the delay insignificant. 

Tomorrow, then, I shall go via Constantsa. Hope it won’t be too 
black a sea voyage.* 

•Translator’s Note: Hoffentlich keine zti schwarze Meerfahrt — a humorous 
allusion to Constantsa's location on the Black Sea (Schwarzes Meer). 




February 13, 1902, on the train, past Verciorova 

Fragrant morning landscape on the Danube. Opalescence on 
the water, a softly shimmering, dull mirror. 

Slept badly; nevertheless, now I am traveling toward the mysteri- 
ous East in an improved morning mood. 

Last night I was in Pest with Schlesinger. I went ahead on the 
noon train and gave my folks instructions for Joe, who was sup- 
posed to come in from Ostend at 5 : 25 in the afternoon. 

I suppose Schlesinger wasn’t quite sure whether I would call on 
him now that I no longer need him. I wanted to show him that I 
can be relied upon implicitly. My coming to see him was worth the 
effort, too. He gave me some good hints. The chief one: that Cohn 
needs me badly now. 

He also promised to come immediately if I should call him, i.e., 
if we run onto a sandbank. 

Then I went through my nocturnal native city to the station. 

My friend Joe arrived on schedule, and after a cordial greeting 
the two of us continued our trip. 


February 15, Constantinople 

My fourth time in Constantinople since the days of Newlinski. 

It is the same old city: colors, colors, and the barking of dogs — 
et tout le reste [and all the rest]. 

I drove to the Palace straight from the boat, in company with 
Dr. Wellisch. 

Unfortunately our Rumanian steamer had lost time during the 
night because of heavy seas, so that we didn’t land at Top-Hane 
until almost three o’clock yesterday, Friday, afternoon. I had al- 
ready changed my clothes on board, to be sure; but by the time we 
got to the Palace it was half-past three. 

I was taken to Ibrahim’s office, by now familiar to me. The two 
Assistant Masters of Ceremonies, Ghalib and Memduh Bey, kept 
me company, amiably and silently. The half-hour until the arrival 


1215 


1216 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

of Ibrahim, who had immediately been notified of my arrival 
passed rather slowly. 

Then Ibrahim came, and from the Sultan, who sent me word 
that the selamlik had made him too tired to receive me immedi- 
ately. I was to come to the Palace tomorrow morning (i.e., today) 
We arranged that I was to be there at 1 1 o’clock. Ibrahim remarked 
that H.M. had “ quelques irades imperiaux et peut-etre des propo- 
sitions d communiquer [some Imperial decrees and maybe some 
propositions to communicate] to me. 

I bowed silently. 

Thereupon Ibrahim further informed me that the Sultan asked 
me to regard myself as his guest during my entire stay here. 

Again I bowed silently. 

Then we talked about some trifling things. I mentioned that I 
had brought some fruit for H.M. Ibrahim and Ghalib raised their 
eyebrows. No comestibles [foodstuffs] may be brought as presents. 
However, Ibrahim immediately said amiably that as a stranger I 
need not be acquainted with their customs. Whereupon I asked 
the gentlemen to be kind enough to accept the fruit from me; we 
would consume it together. 

I left and frittered away the rest of the day in idleness with 
J oe - Then we met Crespi on the Grande Rue de Pdra, and he ac- 
companied me to the hotel. I told him those things in confidence 
which I wanted him to divulge. 

Then, for the first time in days, I slept rather well. 


February 1 5, afternoon 

The first round is over. 

Result unfavorable. 

I got to the Palace at 1 1 o’clock. I rode with Wellisch, and in the 
second carriage was Joe with the boxes of fruit and the container 
with the warming-pan. 

A sensation at the Yildiz entrance. We and our conspicuous 

pieces of luggage were sniffed at. But we were still able to pass 
easily. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1217 

At Ibrahim’s office we had to wait a little while for him. 

Finally the smiler appeared. I introduced him to Joe, who then 
withdrew to the ante-chamber with Wellisch. 

Ibrahim informed the Sultan by letter of my presence. 

Then he nonchalantly started a conversation which I immedi- 
ately guessed as being pre-arranged. 

He asked me about the aims of the Zionist Congress. I explained 
to him the purely nationalist Judaism of the Zionists which resists 
absorption by other nations such as is desired by our Jewish op- 
ponents. 

Ibrahim said a distorted report had come in according to which 
I had announced that the Sultan had permitted the immigration 
of the Jews into Palestine for the purpose of establishing a Jewish 
kingdom, and this had been denied through the Embassy. 

(Such a denial was completely unknown to me). 

I now gave him the exact wording of my speech. I only said what 
the Sultan had in May expressly authorized me to say; and even 
that only after I had informed the Sultan by letter that I was about 
to do so. 

Ibrahim smiled as always. 

“We knew that Dr. Herzl couldn’t have said anything improper. 
If that weren’t so, the Sultan wouldn’t have invited you to be his 
guest.” 

Then we talked about all sorts of things, including my presents. 
Ibrahim had them brought in. I explained the warming-pan whose 
appearance at first seemed to inspire him with some concern. The 
fruit required no explanation. The firm name of the foremost 
Viennese gourmet-food shop made a good impression. 

After that the other Masters of Ceremonies came in, and I think 
the head cook as well. The warming-pan caused the most pleasant 
stir, after its non-explosive character had been established. 

Then we went to lunch and ate Turkish dishes which had been 
warm once. 

During the meal Tahsin Bey came in person, had a confidential 
^rahim, and didn’t even shake hands with me. 
ter we had eaten Ibrahim told me to go to see Izzet Bey. I was 


1218 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

already outside when he called me back again and whispered to 
me that I should accede to Izzet’s wishes who would inform me of 
his personal interests. 

“Cela va sans dire [That goes without saying],” I sa ij not 
amazed at the fact that Ibrahim himself was telling me this 

I was met by Izzet in the grand courtyard in front of the wing 
where the Sultan had received me in May. We exchanged a cordial 
greeting and went back to Ibrahim’s office. 

The three of us sat down in the same armchairs that we had oc- 
cupied respectivement [respectively] last May, and the conversa- 
tion was continued from the same point. 

Presently Izzet began with rudesse [brusquely]:* 

‘‘What was the purpose of your visit last May?” 

‘‘But I told you at the time. To come to the aid of Turkey if she 
in turn wants to aid us. We Jews need a strong Turkey, etc., as I 
have indicated several times in my memoranda to His Imperial 
Majesty.” 

‘ Yes,” said Izzet, “it has been understood that there would be 
moral and material aid on your part, as you people are very influ- 
ential, both in journalism and in finance. But nothing of the sort 
has materialized. All you did was to make declarations in London 
and in Basel.” 

It was quite necessary,” I replied, “since it was a question of cre- 
ating a favorable climate of opinion for His Imperial Majesty 
among the Jews all over the world. And I believe I have succeeded 
in this, because there has been a great manifestation of sympathy.” 

All right, let us establish on both sides what is involved here,” 
said Izzet. I shall give it to you straight. His Imperial Majesty is 
prepared to open his Empire to Jewish refugees from all countries, 
on condition that they agree to become Ottoman subjects with all 

the duties that this imposes, under our laws and our military serv- 
ice.” 

“Exactly!” I replied. 

He continued: “Before entering our country they must formally 
resign their previous nationality and become Ottoman subjects. On 

Translator s Note: This conversation was recorded in French. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1219 

this condition they may establish themselves in any of our prov- 
inces except — at first — Palestine.” 

I didn’t bat an eyelash, also understood at once that this was only 
the first offer and that they would be open to bargaining. 

“In return,” Izzet went on, “His Imperial Majesty asks you to 
form a syndicate for the consolidation of the public debt, which is 
currently under discussion, and to assume the concession for the 
exploitation of all the mines in the Empire, those already dis- 
covered and those yet to be discovered.” 

"What mines?” I asked. 

“All the mines in existence here, gold mines and silver mines, 
coal mines and oil wells. Knowing that you are interested in having 
a strong Turkey we aren’t afraid that you will exploit us and are 
willing to entrust the exploitation to you. 

“However, this will have to be an Ottoman company whose 
administrative council will be composed entirely of Jews and 
Moslems.” 

"I should like permission to think this over,” I said. “I ask you 
only to be kind enough to tell His Imperial Majesty from me that 
one thing is certain in any case — that he can count on my sincere 
and determined devotion. This is the principle we are going to 
put first. As for the details, we shall make every effort to discuss 
them and to reach an understanding about them.” 

He then asked me to work up a memoire [memorandum] in 
reply by tomorrow. 

Then I gave him his snuff-box which greatly pleased him. He 
said he was crazy about snuff-boxes. 

Before he left he whispered something to Ibrahim. The latter 
told it to me afterwards. Ibrahim was going to send his homme de 
confiance [confidential agent] to see me at my hotel, about “his 
personal interests.” 

Agreed,” I said, and added: “I can do a lot for Turkey — more 
than people think — but in return I must be given something 
tangible for my Jews.” 

That made sense to Ibrahim. 


1220 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Then I sent someone to Tahsin to ask whether I could see him. 
No, he replied; he was too busy. 


February 16 , in bed, before sunrise 

I woke up with the reply which I have to give the Sultan. 

It is as follows:* 

Sire: 

The communications which Y.I.M. did me the honor of having 
sent to me yesterday by His Excellency Izzet Bey showed me a lofty 
benevolence to which I reply with sincere gratitude and complete 
devotion. 

It is this same devotion which prompts me to present most re- 
spectfully the following observations. 

The communications of H.E. Izzet Bey fall logically into two 
different parts: 

1 ) an industrial part, 

2 ) a politico-financial part. 

1 ) Y.I.M. in his lofty wisdom offers to entrust me with the 
mission of establishing an Ottoman company to exploit all the 
mines, both those already discovered and those to be discovered, in 
your Empire. 

I can only accept this proposition in principle, for it gives me 
the opportunity to serve Y.I.M. ’s interests, and to serve them 
loyally. 

The details naturally remain still to be decided. 

2 ) In Y.I.M.’s generosity, so often demonstrated to the Jews of 
the Empire, Y.I.M. is willing to extend paternal protection to the 
persecuted Jews of the whole world and to receive them as Turkish 
subjects in Y.I.M.’s states, but on condition that they do not es- 
tablish themselves in large numbers in a predetermined place. And 
in return Y.I.M. would desire to see a Jewish syndicate formed for 
the consolidation of the Debt. 

• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1221 

In this form the proposal seems to be difficult of realization. To 
carry it out sufficient publicity is needed; and in this publicity it 
would have a bad effect, at least a dubious one, if restrictions were 
added to the generously intended welcome. But beyond this gen- 
eral consideration, there are still practical reasons. It is not the 
poor colonists who will supply the capital for the great financial 
operations. It is a matter, then, of finding a link between Jewish 
colonization and the execution of the consolidation of the Debt. 
This link, in my very humble opinion, can be found only in a gen- 
eral concession for the formation of a great Ottoman-Jewish 
company for colonization. 

I have, Sire, the honor, etc. 


February 17 . 


T out est rompu [Everything is ruined] here. 

The day had a good beginning and a bad end. 

I had completed my letter of reply to the Sultan; then, a bit late, 
I drove to Yildiz. 

I handed my letter to Ibrahim who then translated it into Turk- 
ish for the Sultan with the aid of the Deputy Master of Ceremonies, 
Ghalib Bey. He had instructions to make a literal translation. 

After this had been done with fussy delays we chatted about a 
number of things, particularly Zionism. Ibrahim revealed himself 
as a warm Zionist and declared himself to be pour une alliance 
offensive et defensive entre les Turcs et les Juifs [in favor of an 
offensive and defensive alliance between the Turks and the Jews]. 

From this I concluded — since Ibrahim toujours abonde dans 
le sens de son maitre [always echoes his master’s opinions] — that 
the wind has changed in our favor. 

Ibrahim also informed me that I had repeatedly been denounced 
to the Sultan as dangerous and that my Congress speech had been 
brought to his attention in distorted form. However, the Sultan 
ln bis lofty wisdom had seen through the intrigues and only in- 


1222 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

structed his ambassadors to deny that he had made a promise to me 

Then we went to lunch, which was a bit better this time. 

To help our digestion— a rather tempestuous digestion— I zze t 
Bey showed up again. He read through my reply and with his 
usual penetration demanded an explanation of the Cie. Ott.-Juive 
pour la colonisation [Ottoman-Jewish Colonization Co.] Was it to 
have a choice of places for settlement, that is, be able to buy areas 
anywhere at all, and gather the Jews under it? 

“Yes!” I replied. “That is indispensable. After all, we are not 
concerned with protection individuelle [individual protection]- 
which we have in all civilized countries even now — , but with pro- 
tection nationale [national protection].” 

What did I mean by that, Their Excellencies asked. 

I explained: a great public gesture in our favor, such as an invi- 
tation to immigrate without any restriction. 

Thereupon Izzet took my letter to the Sultan. 

While we were waiting, Ibrahim and Ghalib raved about the 
happy conditions to come: how it would be when the Jews came. 
They dreamed aloud of the improvement of agriculture and in- 
dustry, of banks which would not serve foreign interests, etc. 

But then Izzet returned with the Sultan’s decision, and it was 
unfavorable. The Sultan is willing to open his Empire to all Jews 
who become Turkish subjects, but the regions to be settled are to 
be decided each time by the government, and Palestine is to be 
excluded. The Comp. Ott.-Juive is to be allowed to colonize in 
Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, anywhere at all, with the sole ex- 
ception of Palestine! 


A Charter without Palestine! I refused at once. 

Ibrahim remarked: * “The two offers are very far apart!” 

Izzet said: “What do you expect? Life is like that. First you are 

a thousand miles apart, and in the end you reach an understand- 
ing.” 

I said. I m afraid not. I shall sleep on it again and think it over 
until tomorrow. But I am very much afraid I won’t find a solution.” 


•Translator’s Note: This 


conversation in French. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1223 

Izzet said piously: “ Inshallah [May Allah grant it]! Let us hope 
that you will find one.” 

I: “Alas, it seems unlikely to me. And if I don’t find a solution 
by tomorrow, I shall ask His Imperial Majesty for permission to 
leave.” 

This was immediately taken as a threat to break off negotiations: 
Izzet and Ibrahim exchanged glances, and Izzet said frostily: “Sans 
doute [To be sure]!” 

Then, in accordance with the Sultan’s orders, a written record 
was made of this conversation and signed by Izzet and Ibrahim. 

I got ready to leave. I asked Ibrahim softly when Izzet’s con- 
fidential agent Caporal would come to see me. Ibrahim spoke with 
Izzet and brought me his answer: it was superfluous now. By this 
I recognized how seriously the negotiations had miscarried. So I 
whispered in Ibrahim’s ear: an idea would be to make a double 
contract — that is, a public one which protects the Sultan from op- 
position, and a secret one for me and my friends. 

Ibrahim said I should immediately inform Izzet of this expedi- 
ent. I did. But Izzet said, with a pronounced wink and grimace: 

“That isn’t possible. The ministers wouldn’t be willing. There 
are some of them whom you could convince. But there are also 
others who cannot be convinced — at any price.” 

Now I left pour de bon [in earnest]. 

* * # 

I slept on the matter, which I regard as lost for the moment. Now 
I am writing the following letter to the Sultan: * 

Sire: 

It is with sincere and profound regret at not being able to be of 
use to Y.I.M. under the existing conditions that I prepare to take 
my leave. 

I must respectfully bow to the judgment that Y.I.M., in his lofty 
wisdom, has expressed. 

After reflection I have found only one thing that might perhaps 
smooth the difficulties. I most humbly submit it to Y.I.M. ’s judg- 

1° French in the original. 


1224 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

ment. If colonization without restriction were accorded us, I would 
persuade my friends to found a great Turkish bank with its central 
office at Constantinople and branches in all the important cities 
of the Empire. This bank, whose governing board would be com- 
posed exclusively of Moslems and Jews, would be charged with the 
modem organization of credit in the Ottoman countries. Thus it 
would be proved to all that the coming of the Jews would be an 
advantage, a piece of luck for the interests of the entire country. 

If Y.I.M. does not believe it necessary to go into this proposal, I 
should like to ask permission to leave tomorrow morning, for my 
many activities make a long absence extremely difficult for me. I 
should be most happy if I were to have the signal honor of being 
received again today at a farewell audience in order that I may 

express my profound gratitude for the delighful reception that has 
been accorded me. 


If Y.I.M. does not have time for me, I beg Your Majesty to do 
me the favor of accepting two small gifts. One is one of my books 
which will be delivered the day after tomorrow. It is a collection of 
philosophic tales. The other is a typewriter with Turkish-Arabic 
type which I have had made in America for Y.I.M. This typewriter 
will be at Constantinople in about two weeks. 


If today I have not been fortunate enough to find the solution 
to the question to be solved, perhaps the day will come later. May 
Y.I.M. only remember his ever completely devoted servant. I shall 
continue to foster in the great Jewish organization that I represent 
sentiments of respect and love for the august person of the Caliph, 
the only great friend we have on earth. 

I remain. Sire, 


Y.I.M. ’s most humble . . • 


February 19, on the train, in Rumania, 
between Pitesti and ? 


I had finished the preceding letter so late the day before yester 
ay that I could no longer accept Ibrahim's luncheon invitation 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1225 

Therefore I sent Wellisch to Yildiz Kiosk with the letter, had 
lunch with Joe at the Pdra Palace instead, afterwards tried to take 
a brief nap, and then drove out. 

I brought along one jewel-studded gold pencil each for Ibrahim 
and the Second Master of Ceremonies, Ghalib. 

I was unable to deliver the snuff-box for Tahsin, so now I am 
bringing it back again among our valuables. 

Ibrahim was sitting lazily over the translation of my letter, and 
then finished it, moaning and groaning, in my presence. 

Then he called the Third Master of Ceremonies, Memduh Bey, 
who had to calligraph the fair copy for the Sultan. 

While Memduh was writing, Turkish style, on his knees, his 
left hand flat under the sheet of paper, Ibrahim began talking 
about his deceased son, the poor, charming Said Bey, whom I had 
met in London in June and who had soon after that died of an un- 
successful operation at Karlsbad. 

Ibrahim wept, and this brought him very close to me as a human 
being. 

Memduh’s handiwork was then sent to the Sultan, and after 
awhile I was called to Izzet, who is now my intimate friend. He 
laughed and winked at me as if I were just as much of a crook as 
he is. 

He repeated the Sultan’s propositions to me, and I rejected them 
just as flatly. I said I could use immigration only without any re- 
striction, or not at all. 

The Sultan sent me the message that he could not grant me un- 
limited immigration under the administration of my Land Com- 
pany even if he wanted to. 

For he had reason to fear that he would not only not win the sup- 
port of the majority of his people for it, but not even of the 
minority. 

To this Izzet remarked with a grin that it was an error to believe 
1 at an absolute monarch could do whatever he wanted. 

Izzet now changed over to a confidential tone and gave me the 
advice of a friend:* 

Translator s Note: This conversation in French. 


1226 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

“Enter this country as financiers, make friends, and later you will 
do whatever you want to.” (This was accompanied by a strong 
wink, unmistakably intended to say: we do know what you want 
and inwardly we have no objections to it, neither the Sultan nor 
we businessmen in his confidence who just want to make some 
money around him. But we’ve got to be careful, otherwise we’ll 
be sent packing.) 

He continued: 

“Take our finances in hand and you will be the boss. First attend 
to the mining business, which is superb. There are hundreds, 
thousands of requests for concessions to which we don’t even reply. 
You are being offered the exploitation of all mines in existence 
in the Empire, and you don’t want to take it? 

After that, attend to the banking business. You will be given all 
the necessary concessions. It will be done in such a way that the 
Ottoman Bank will suspect nothing, because those gentlemen 
would be furious and would go to any lengths against you. And 

finally, we would see what could be done for your colonization 
request. 

If you want to take my heart-to-heart advice, this is what you 
must do: Leave tomorrow, talk to your friends, create that syn- 
dicate we need, earmark, through a bank which will keep it at your 

disposal, a sum of to be deposited as security when the firman 

[decree] of the concessions is promulgated. And then we shall be 
able to make a contract with you. For example, for the firman 

covering the mines you will deposit a security of a million francs, 
and so on.” 

This idea I immediately thought brilliant, because it will give 
me an opportunity to flash money in front of the eyes of the greedy 
and yet involves no outlay on our part. Yet I said very reservedly: 
“I see that you speak as a friend, and I shall also do all I can 
to get my friends to accept your advice. But I have to expect what 
they will tell me: you are offering us business that we are not 
looking for and don t bring us what we want, namely, the Coloni- 
zation Company. All the same, I shall strive to be agreeable to His 
Imperial Majesty and to acquire friends here at all levels. I under- 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1227 

stand perfectly what you are trying to say: One has to create inter- 
ests around one if one wants to succeed. And to this same end I be- 
lieve that it would be better to issue three different firmans: one for 
the mines, one for the bank, and one for the Colonization Co. That 
will make it easier for me to interest different groups. There will 
be some who will benefit by the first firman, others by the second, 
and still others by the third. And there will be friends who will be 
in on all three. (As I said this I gave him a penetrating and inviting 
look). Do you understand me?” 

He replied with winning simplicity: 

“I understand you. That’s not bad.” 

Then I said: 

“Ibrahim Bey told me that you would like to send your business 
agent Mr. Caporal to see me. Why so? Since we are friends, there is 
no need to have a third party between us. Let us understand each 
other directly; that is always better.” 

He looked at me almost with eyes of love — this is how well he 
liked my frankness — , and said: 

“You are right.” 

Then he did get back to his master’s interests: “The govern- 
ment* needs a million pounds now (aha! the Hejaz Railroad, I 
thought to myself); can you get it for us?” 

Yes!’’ I said quickly: “Give me unrestricted colonization and 
you will have the million in very short order. This I can offer you 
at once, because that’s what I have come for. I will have to discuss 
the other projects with my friends first.” 

That isn’t possible at the moment,” he replied. 

While we have been talking, an idea has occurred to me,” 
I said. I cannot agree to immigration with a restriction. But if 
must not fix the number of immigrants, we can do it. The 
Ottoman-Jewish Co. could assume the responsibility to the gov- 
ernment for not admitting more than a certain number of 
colonists.” 

How many, for instance?” 

the word S ' at ° r S ^ 0te: Herzl notes at this point, regarding Izzet’s pronunciation of 
gouvernement : “He kept saying guvernment , sometimes even yiivernment 



1228 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

“I haven’t given this enough thought. The idea simply popped 
into my mind. What do you think of it?” 

‘‘It may not be bad,” he said. ‘‘We would see about that later 
But first of all, attend to our finances!” 

And this is how things were to remain. 

Two palace officials or guests come in, sat down amid many 
salaams, drank coffee, and smoked cigarettes. We weren’t able to 
continue, but didn’t have any more to say to each other anyway. 

He saw me out to the couloir [corridor], and asked me in the 
Sultan s name to come to the Palace again the next morning since 
I probably wished to say good-bye. The Sultan also wanted to show 
me une amabilite d’adieux [a farewell kindness]. 

I drove back to the hotel. 

In the evening the correspondent of the Havas News Agency, 

a French Swiss named Sandoz, came to see me with an introduction 
from Crespi. 

Sandoz is a charmingly chattering, rosy old gentleman qui 
semble avoir eu des revers de fortune [who seems to have had hard 
luck]. He immediately wanted to secure my services for the found- 
ing of a big international newspaper, L’ Europe , to be published in 
Switzerland. Naturally I wasn’t taken in by this, et pour cause [and 
with good reason]. Anyone could have such plans for a newspaper 

and would have very good use for a man who would lend him the 
money for it. 

But then we chatted agreablement en confreres [pleasantly, like 
colleagues], and I endeavored to make an agreeable impression on 
him because I might have use for him later. 

* * # 

Yesterday morning I got up very early in order to drive to the 
Palace, for the boat was leaving at 10 o’clock. Our trunks had been 
packed the evening before. I asked Joe to pay the bill— for despite 
the invitation to regard myself as the guest of the Sultan no one 
ad come from the Palace to advise the hotel. The presumption 
was more than justified that the orders had been cut off somewhere 
and that the money had been stolen. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1229 

I further asked Joe to go to the boat with all the luggage, but 
not to embark until I came. I thought it possible — expected it, in 
fact— that the Sultan would not let me depart. However, things 
happened differently. With him everything always happens differ- 
ently from the way one expects it. Some day I shall probably get 
the Charter, too, at a quite unforeseen moment — if at all. That 
is, provided we don’t get it until after Turkey is divided, from the 
Powers. 

Ibrahim and Izzet had had to rise early on my account. Their 
Excellencies actually appeared right after my arrival, and Izzet had 
instructions to make a record, in Turkish and French, of our 
negotiation. 

Therefore I made a memorandum which was to be translated 
into Turkish afterwards: * 


Today, February 18, 1902 

Their Excellencies Ibrahim and Izzet Bey have done me the 
honor of communicating the following propositions to me on be- 
half of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan: 

1) His Imperial Majesty will permit the immigration of Jews 
into his provinces of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, on condition 
that the immigrants obtain from their respective governments 
authorization to become Ottoman subjects. The immigrants must 
submit to the Ottoman laws in force and participate in military 
service. Immigration must not take place on a mass basis, nor must 
there be mass settlement, but in accordance with the decisions 

made by the Imperial government in the areas that will be in- 
dicated to them. 

2 ) In return His Imperial Majesty desires the formation of a 
Jewish financial syndicate in order to render assistance to the Im- 
perial government in the following matters: 

a ) The formation of a mining company for the general exploi- 
ta tion of mines in the Empire, whose administrative council will 

^ French in the original. 



1230 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

be composed half of Moslem Ottoman subjects, half of Ottoman 
Jews. 

b) The facilitation of the process of consolidating the Ottoman 
Public Debt, under moderate and advantageous conditions. 

c) The loan to the Ottoman government of the sums necessary 
to carry out its public-works projects, under moderate and ad- 
vantageous conditions. 


* * # 

Having respectfully taken cognizance of these Imperial com- 
munications, I have been obliged to declare, to my great regret 
that the aforementioned conditions seem unacceptable to me. 
However, I remain at His Imperial Majesty’s disposal for further 
negotiations. 


Dr. Th.H. 

But when Izzet began to dictate passages that were not to my 
liking, I said:* 

If you want me to write all that, you will permit me to add at 
the end that I have declined the proposals that were made to 
me.” 

Exactly!” said His crafty Excellency. 

While I was writing somebody came from the Sultan, bring- 
mg me, on his instructions, 200 pounds as reimbursement for my 
travel expenses. 

I shrugged my shoulders, with due respect, and smilingly asked 
the gentlemen: 

But would I be permitted to offer this sum to charitable proj- 
ects?” 

Accept it and sign for it first,” said Izzet with a wily smile, “then 
you can do what you like with it.” 

So I wrote out a receipt: 

Received from the Imperial treasury the sum of two hundred 
pounds for traveling expenses. Dr. Th. H. 

* Translator’s Note: This conversation in French. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1231 

While I was making a clean copy of my memorandum, I reflected 
on whether I ought to leave these £ 200 with the two Excellencies 
for distribution among the poor, i.e., make them a gift of it, which 
they certainly wouldn’t have refused — or whether to keep if for 
our poor A.C. treasury. I decided on the latter, mainly for the 
reason that while my acknowledgment of the receipt of £ 200 
would then be preserved in the files of the civil administration, 
there would be no proof that I had immediately given the money 
away again. 

The idea of keeping these 5,000 francs, which by rights are my 
personal property, inasmuch as they are an honorarium for my 
efforts, never occurred to me even for a moment. 

I said good-bye and farewell to the two Excellencies. 

“I leave loaded with gold,” I said to them with superior humor, 
and they bowed low before my nonchalance in the face of such a 
sum. 

“Gentlemen and Your Excellencies,” I said, “although officially 
we haven’t reached a result, let me express the hope that we shall 
meet again! I shall follow your advice, I shall try to find what is 
good both for your country and for my Jews and that could satisfy 
the whole world.” 

“May God hear you,” said Izzet piously. “We are your partisans 
[on your side].” Or did he say participants? 

Ibrahim repeated, with a happy smile and a low bow: 

"Yes, we two are your partisans !” 

And since I was just holding Izzet’s hand with my right hand, 
I gave Ibrahim my left hand. And we presented a pretty picture, 
a baksheesh Riitli* meeting, as it were! 

Many hands with palms turned upwards were stretched out to 
me before I reached the Yildiz gate. Since we are in Wonderland,** 
as I keep explaining to my good Joe, I also have to shower down 
gold pieces wherever I go, like an Oriental prince. 

I believe my reputation for generosity is increased by these 

* Cf. note, p. 787. 

In English in the original. 


1232 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

small baksheeshes in the overheated fairy-tale atmosphere of 
Wonderland* A sort of gold fever must sweep Yildiz at my appear 
ance. For this rain of gold is seen by many eyes, and most of these 
eyes belong to spies. 

Therefore, if I give so much even to the doormen, how much 
must the Excellencies be getting with whom I have such long 
secret conferences. 

All Yildiz probably thinks that, and soon the Porte, the city, the 
country will too. 

These gold pieces which I lose at the gate are among my most 
fruitful investments. 


* * # 

I had the horses of my hotel carriage race to the harbor as fast 
as they could run, and sure enough, I got to the boat five minutes 
before it sailed. 

Aboard in a hurry * 

I told Joe: 

“But now you will hear the funniest thing from Wonderland* 
We leave richer than we came.” And I handed him the unopened 
bag which had been weighting down my back coat-pocket. 

I asked him to leave the little bag the way it was and only put it 
down on the A.C. table at the conclusion of our report. The way 
I know my gentlemen, they will listen to our report about this 
incomprehensible and useless trip with raised eyebrows. Then 
their eyes will pop in their pettiness. 

. incidentally, I intend to give the amount we are bringing back 
in excess of what we took to the National Fund under my initials 
and to have the rest, too, entered as my donation for Zionist pur- 
poses, 1 ) because the money from the Sultan was not given to 
^ ut to rae » 2 ) because in the face of my signed receipt 

ic has remained in Yildiz there must be some document to 
cover me. 

* * # 


* In English in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1233 

We had a bad trip on the wretched Rumanian boat. The sea was 
rough, and in the afternoon a thick fog settled. 

At such times one gets all sorts of ideas. E.g., if we collided with 
another boat and went down — then at some future time the re- 
ceipt for the £ 200 would be found in Yildiz — perhaps when the 
Russians or Bulgarians conquer the country? And then I would 
appear to be a hireling of the blood-stained Sultan, a sort of New- 
linski. Of course, Joe Cowen, who would also have gone down, 
could then not testify in my defense either that I had immediately 
given the gift away. 

Joe told me on the train today that he, too, had thought of 
shipwreck and the moneybag today. He was determined, first thing 
as he was going down, to throw the heavy bag away because it 
could drag him down. 

Incidentally, we lay in our cabins almost the whole time. 

I did not feel well enough to write, but I did do a lot of thinking. 

The plans for the whole immediate future were worked out in 
ray head. 

First of all I shall call a meeting of the Board for March 10 th in 
London. 

I shall try the mine scheme through Reitlinger. If he fails, 
through the London South Africans. 

The Board must allot the security for the Bank and the Land 
Company. 

VdmWry must bring the pouting Tahsin round. 

Sonnenschein must get permission for me to wear my decoration 
out of Koerber. For withholding it makes a bad impression in 
Yildiz. 

Finally, Izzet had requested me in the name of the Sultan to ask 
the management of the N. Fr. Pr. what its good will and secretly 
becoming an unofficial Turkish organ would cost. An amusing 
assignment which I shall discharge when I have a chance. 

Perhaps this will make a Zionist of Benedikt. 


1234 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

A thought in the cabin on the Black Sea: 

La diplomatic , . c’est I’art de trailer avec des brigands [Diplomacy 
is the art of dealing with robbers]. 

* * * 


Letter to Vambery: 

My good Vambery bacsi : 

1 am writing you these lines on the Orient Express on my return 
journey. You see, I didn’t let Cohn detain me and left after four 
days, although he declared me his guest and had me treated very 
cordially. I didn’t see him in person. I only spoke with his repre- 
sentatives. But precisely the chief one, your friend , didn’t come 
near me in fact, he wasn’t even at home to me, although I had him 
informed of my presence a number of times. How am I to under- 
stand this? Will you have the kindness to clear this up, bdcsikam 
[my little uncle]? He was downright hostilel I couldn’t even hand 
him the present that I had brought along for him. 

To the point: Cohn offers far too little and demands too much. 

I am not enough of an Oriental tradesman to fritter away my 
time over countless cups of coffee. That is why I preferred to leave, 
even though on the best of terms and keeping myself at his disposal 
if he should make more reasonable proposals. 

One thing, however, I thought I could sense. Those people 
don t seem to be quite sure whether I can deposit a financial 
security for a possible signing of a contract. This can be remedied, 
if that s all it is. On March 10 th I shall go to London, and on the 

15 th I shall have a certificate of security sent to Cohn by two or 
three banks. 

He wants financial aid. I am prepared to get it for him, but do ut 
des [I give so that you will give]. 

Am I right? 

Since I have no more to tell, I won’t bother you with a visit 
tonight or even trouble you to come to the station. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1235 

I didn’t hand over your letter of introduction, because I was told 
Cohn might resent my associating with others. 

The idea of calling you seemed hopeless from the start, since 
everything went through your opponent. But perhaps this very 
thing is advantageous for the future, because now you will be 
able to work unnoticed on the other side, which seems to be the 
hostile side at present. 

Please gratify me soon with your judgment on all this. As soon as 
1 have time, I shall come to you for a few hours of consultation. 

Be embraced by 


Your devoted 
Dori. 


February 19 , on the train 


Letter to Bennoreit: 

Dear Friend: 

I am writing you these lines on the Orient Express on the way 
back from Cohn, upon whose invitation and as whose guest I have 
just spent a few days in Constantinople. 

Once again the most extraordinary things have happened, all 

strictly confidential. 

In about two weeks I shall go to London via Paris. Despite this 
I am asking you to come to Vienna even before that, because it may 
be a question of a few useful days. I cannot put this matter in 
writing, and would have to make quite different arrangements if 
you don’t help out. 

You can imagine that I wouldn’t dare to rush you to Vienna if 
•t weren t a question of quite extraordinary matters, since I can 
see you 3 week or two later in Paris anyway. But you would have to 
Save *his very time in order possibly to bring in some people. This 
tlme ’ Y ou see, Cohn wants to put something positive and tremen- 


1236 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

dously beneficial in my hands. It is something that a great number 
of people will probably go along with. 

Therefore I ask you to wire me immediately upon receipt of this 
letter (address: Haizingergasse 29, Wahring, Vienna) whether or 
not you will arrive here in Vienna on Monday. 

But whether you come or not, consider yourself honor-bound 
not to tell a soul of this letter and its contents. 

With the kindest regards. 


Yours sincerely, 
Dori. 


February 21, Vienna 

At the Staatsbahnhof I was met by Kremenezky, Kokesch, and 
Kahn. I gave them a brief report. They would have been satisfied 
even with the colonization of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia which 
the Sultan had offered. 

When that evening I surprised them with the Sultan’s £200, 
they laughed delightedly at first. But then Kokesch stated that this 
sum was at the disposal of the A.C., because it had given me the 
traveling expenses. In essence it is a matter of indifference, since I 
ant thought for a second of keeping the gift for myself. But 

at is typical is the guardianship which the committee want to 
exert over me. 

, rcst ’ we agreed that the money should not be donated 

10n . P ur P oses » but, in accordance with my first inspiration, 
to Turkish charity. 

I am inquiring of Vdmb^ry what cause he recommends. The 
Hejaz Railroad, maybe? 


* * * 

A sensation at the N. Fr. Pr. at my return. Bacher stared at me 
wit curiosity. Benedikt was self-conscious, but didn’t ask any 
<1 ons. The editors chuckled at the publishers’ embarrassment. 


tHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1237 

Benedikt’s slaves and eunuchs no longer laugh at me. It is dawning 
on them that I am the greater man. 

# # * 

In the evening a wire came from Greenberg: the London papers 
are publishing articles to the effect that I have already concluded 
the Charter. 

Worried, I drove to Ambassador Mahmud Nedim Bey in order 
tosendacode telegram through him to Yildiz asking them either to 
disregard the false rumors or let me deny them. If they issued an- 
other denial, it could render my further work impossible. 

Mahmud Nedim was in bed and had his servant tell me that I 
should write out the desired telegram, whereupon he would send it 
in code. 

I wrote it down, but when I had finished I remembered that 
these wires go to Tahsin, who is now against me. 

So I preferred not to leave the telegram there and went away. 
I immediately telephoned the correspondents of the Daily Mail 
and the Daily News and asked them to deny the rumors in my 
name, so that this denial may appear in London this morning. 

I wired Wellisch to tell Ibrahim immediately that I had already 
issued a denial. For if the denial comes from Yildiz Kiosk, it will 
have a much more unfavorable repercussion. We shall see if they 
will cross me up again. 

# # # 

When I think of Izzet, he is probably the merriest and most 
monstrous rascal I have ever met. 

For example, when he first made me the mine proposal, he hid 
ls ^ ace bis hand, and, bending down over his knees, so that 
bvould not see his roguish laughter, he said: # 
h is because we know that you want something else that we 
^entrusting this exploitation to you — you won’t exploit us.” 
dhe meant £v 0up<j [in his heart]: but we will exploit you. 

reDonlf!l. at0rs ^ ote: Quoted in French; wording not identical with the earlier 
r" °< Um conversation. 



1238 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Of course, he’ll have to get up earlier for that, no matter how 
big a crook he is. 

And to this rogue I have to write this charming letter: * 

Your Excellency: 

I have given deep thought to your advice which, I should say, 
was dictated not only by a zealous servant of the Sultan but also by 
a true friend of the Jews, and I have decided to follow it. 

Therefore a deposit of three million francs will be made for the 
three firmans we spoke about (one million per firman ) in several 
banks and to my account, ultimately to be paid to the Ottoman 
government as security as soon as the firmans are made public and 
I give the order to make the payment. 

Perhaps it will be necessary to proceed by stages. What H.I.M. 
has been kind enough to offer me for the colonization is not 
sufficient, it is true, because there is a restriction, a sort of distrust 
which our good will surely does not deserve. But let us get to know 
one other, let us make a start, and let us hope that with the services 
which we are determined to render confidence will grow and we 
shall reach complete agreement. 

In two or three weeks the above-mentioned deposit of three 
million francs will be made. You can be as certain of it as if it 
were already done. On the 15th of March at the latest you will 
know in what banks this money has been deposited; and I shall 
produce the vouchers when they are requested. 

At the same time as this confidential letter I am sending an 
official one, addressed as always to His Excellency Ibrahim Bey. 

The bearer of this letter knows nothing of its contents, and 
consequently he cannot be entrusted with an open reply. It would 
be very helpful to let me have an address for the telegrams which 
I might have to address confidentially and without an intermediary 
to Y.E. What I send from here to Yildiz Kiosk by wire is, of course, 
read before it goes off and before you receive it. And the same 
goes for what is sent to me from Yildiz. Therefore I ask Y.E. to 
sign with a code name— for example, Bachrach. 

In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1239 

Begging Your Excellency to believe in my devotion to your 
country and my unshakable friendship for you, I am 

Ever yours, 
Th.H. 


# # # 


Letter to the Sultan:* 

Sire: 

I have the honor to submit to Y.I.M.’s judgment the following 
most respectful considerations. 

If the entire program of immigration concessions on the part 
of Y.I.M. and of financial services to be rendered on our side is not 
realizable all at once — perhaps there would be a way of at least 
making a start toward its realization. 

After mature deliberation I believe I have found an expedient. 

According to the official report drawn up at Yildiz Kiosk on 
February 18th between Their Excellencies Ibrahim Bey and Izzet 
Bey and myself, Y.I.M. wishes to permit the immigration of Jews 
into his provinces of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, not on a mass 
basis, but in small groups. I must say in all sincerity that I do not 
believe this concession — magnanimous though it may be — 
sufficient for the creation of that great movement in the entire 
Israelite world which is necessary to take care of all the financial 
needs of the Empire. But one could always try and see what the 
results would be. However, in order not to emphasize too much 
the restriction which would be contained in this permission, the 
firman would contain the clause that the immigrants must be 
presented by the committees which I have instituted in the various 
countries. 

In this way it will not be necessary to announce publicly that 
the immigration is limited. Besides, a system can be set up. The 
Imperial government would assign the abandoned areas to me, and 
the immigration could be carried out in good order and in the 
lumbers confidentially determined by the Imp. govt. 

m French in the original. 


1240 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

In return I would form financial syndicates in accordance with 
Y.I.M. s wishes. 

1) for the exploitation of the mines, 

2) for the establishment of a bank for the Ottoman countries 

In order to demonstrate that these propositions do not lack a 

serious foundation and that it is possible to proceed with the set- 
tling of details, I shall have deposits made in several banks by the 
15th of March, with directions that they be paid out to the Ottoman 
govt, upon orders from me. I intend to deposit two or three 
million francs. These sums would constitute the security for the 
concluded arrangements. The deposits will remain for this purpose 
until May 15th, and I shall produce the bank vouchers. 

I have the honor. Sire, to remain 

Y.I.M. s most humble and obedient servant, 
Dr. Th. H. 


Covering letter to Ibrahim:* 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor of transmitting herewith a very important 
letter for H.I.M. 7 K 

Hoping to be with you again soon at Yildiz Kiosk to accomplish 
use u work for Turkey and the Jews, I beg Your Excellency to 
accept this assurance of my high regard and devoted friendship. 


February 22, 1902 


Dr. Th. H. 


February 23 

For a change on the Orient Express again, on my way home from 
Paris 1 *" W 616 I WCnt y ester< ^ a y evening to meet Reitlinger from 


* In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1241 

We met on schedule in Munich at 10:15 . 1 entered his compart- 
ment, he traveled on with me as far as Salzburg, and en deux temps 
trois mouvements [in two shakes of a lamb’s tail] I had explained 
the matter to him. 

For in case the Board and the Council of the Jewish Colonial 
Trust regard the Sultan’s mine proposal as outside their statutory 
domain or should find the necessary baksheeshes which, according 
to a remark of Izzet’s (that Fuad Pasha had received £100,000 for 
a single mine) as well as indications from Ibrahim, I must estimate 
at between 100 and 120,000 pounds — in case, then, that my 
Board should find this too high, I wanted to keep Reitlinger, who 
together with his brothers has got rich on mines, in readiness 
eventualiter [just in case], 

I soon found out that R. considered the matter too costly, risky, 
and unsafe. Actually, he recommended having it handled through 
our Bank, and thought that if it became known that we possessed 
this general mining concession the shares would greatly rise in 
value and that we would dispose of the still unsold ones at high 
rates, while previously we might not have been able to get rid of 
them at face value. 

I thought this idea really first-rate; the only questionable feature 
about it is that then the Turkish government would face the Jew- 
ish Colonial Trust as a contracting party and would be able to 
fleece it. If we stand for it, they will soon take everything we have 
away from us. If we resist and defend ourselves, there’ll be a mess, 
and instead of friendship we shall have enmity which under certain 
circumstances could ruin our whole movement. 

In my introductory remarks I had explained to Reitlinger that 
I would have to receive half of the proceeds, because I wanted to 
use 1 f° r the settlers in Mesopotamia (farm produce cooperative 

societies). 

I also told him that the main reason I had brought him in was 

1 a t I knew him as a good Zionist who, I expected, would let the 

poor people profit from such a gain. Otherwise I could easily have 

one it with my wife’s relatives, nearly all of whom are anti- 
Zionists 


1242 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

But I soon found out que la chose ne lui souriait pas [that the 
matter did not appeal to him]. C’est peut-etre une de mes nom- 
br eases bevues [This may be one of my numerous blunders]. 

The day after tomorrow I shall write him the following letter: 


To Reitlinger: 

Strictly confidential! 
February 25, 1902 

Dear Friend: 

Many thanks again for your trouble which I value highly as a 
token of the trust you place in me. 

You also gave me such good and candid advice that I now almost 
reproach myself for having dealt with you too politically in the 
beginning. The interests I represent must justify this. But now I 
too want to give you a proof of my confidence by absolute frank- 
ness, by giving you a detailed explanation of my action. The pro- 
posal I made you comes second. I tell you this at the risk of depre- 
ciating it, for psychology teaches us that one is no longer keen on 
a thing that has already been refused by others. But bear in mind 
that if the Board of the Jewish Colonial Trust refuses to carry 
out my plan, it may be guided by special considerations which have 
nothing to do with the real value of the concession that I have 
in prospect. 

In the first place, you see, I will and must try to let the Colonial 
Trust do the business. Right after my return from Constantinople 
I convened my Vienna committee and reported to it, as well as 
calling a meeting of the Bank’s Board of Directors for the middle 
of March. It can t be done any faster, because by-laws and periods 
in accordance with standing orders must be observed. All this 
makes the machinery, cumbersome as it is, even more unwieldy. 

Therefore I should like to have the possible agreement with you 
ready, except for the signature, even before then, so as not to lose 
even more time. This will explain to you why I had to get you into 
action so quickly. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1243 

My Vienna committee believes that I shall not get the support 
of the 24 to 26 gentlemen of the united councils who are to be 
consulted for my plans. They are very fine people, but hard to 
bring under one hat. In this case there is the additional fact that 
it is a matter of investing more than half of the available company 
funds, even though this investment promises a big profit. For me, 
of course, it would be the full gratification of a decharge [relief]; I 
would be covered in every respect and wouldn’t have to take care 
of the secret expeditures myself, but could have it done, in the 
manner customary with us, by persons appointed for the purpose. 
You yourself have supplied me with a good argument for the im- 
plementation of the plan through our Colonial Trust: from the 
moment we intend to serve only Cohn’s interests, we need not fear 
that the present embrassade [embrace] will later turn into a quarrel 
and that our organization will become hated. 

After all, I have acquired some authority with my friends and 
can push through a good many things. 

However, I must also reckon with the possibility that they will 
not obey me. This is how matters stand. And now, my most 
honored friend, declare yourself. 

My condition that you must not talk about it with anyone out- 
side of your family is unalterable. 

With cordial regards. 

Yours sincerely, 
Dori. 

February 25, 1902 


* * * 


To Alex Marmorek: 


February 25, Vienna 

% good Alex: 

Th C 

fi e rstca lmer moment after my return. These lines are strictly 
ential, only for you and friend Nordau. 


1244 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl 

I left Cohn without an agreement, but with an excellent relation 
ship for negotiations. He summoned me by telegram, made me 
proposals in Yildiz (through his official representatives), we ne- 
gotiated “from Power to Power,” as they say, and I rejected his 
proposals in a final memorandum, although I added that I re- 
mained at his disposal pour d’autres negotiations [for further ne- 
gotiations]. 

He offered: the colonization (on gratis territory) in Asia Minor 
and Mesopotamia, with the exception of Palestine. 

He demanded: the founding of financial syndicates which are to 
take care of all sorts of business for him (bank, loans, mines, 
etc.) 

I had to refuse, because I can make an agreement only on the 
basis of our program, as long as the Greater A.C. does not authorize 
me to make such impromptu policy. 

However, afterwards I was notified semi-officially that I should 
have possible security for the various concessions deposited in 
banks anyway. If they saw this earnest, negotiations would get 
going again and better. Therefore we have called the Board and the 
Council to Vienna for the 17 th of March. 

My local colleagues believe that our Bank people will not be 
willing. Barbasch and associates are for transactions in Russia, but 
not in Turkey. Naturally I shall lower the boom on them, for we’ve 
got to make a start (of course, with the greatest securities imagin- 
able) first, to get firm ground under our feet, second, because I 
believe that the possession of concessions can change the value of 
the Bank shares from a sentimental to a real value, perhaps even 
a very great one. 

Unfortunately our good Barbasches don’t always understand 
me. 

I was going to call the board meeting in London, in order to 
negotiate with other financiers on the side and bring their possible 
readiness to bear on our slow-pokes. Unfortunately I can’t get 
away now. The colossal pity is that I am a serf of the N. Fr. Pr. and 
mustn t risk my livelihood. Therefore, only if the Board is ab- 


XHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1245 

solutely unwilling shall I try to get a leave of absence later and 
approach the London financiers. 

If it works out, this will be a thorny affair. You see, in default 
of the Bank I would have to make the transactions in my own name, 
and even though it were known to the inner circle that I am not 
making the deals for myself, i.e., that I turn over all the financial 
benefits falling to my share to the colonization and the party treas- 
ury in advance, on the outside I would still be a G’schaftelhuber* 
and would be quite painfully nailed to the cross for it. C’est un 
engrenage — quand on y a mis le doigt [It’s a cog-wheel— once 
you’ve put in a finger] . . . 

Perhaps we shall find another way out; maybe one of our faith- 
ful, of whom we are absolutely sure, can be put in as a straw-man 
concessionaire — Wolffsohn, Kremenezky, or someone like that — 
although the question there is whether Cohn will accept anyone 
but me. For Cohn has confidence in mel His proposals are directed 
to me personally. 

The coming weeks must mature this. You and Nordau should 
wite me your views. You, dear Alex, need not come to Vienna for 
the Council meeting. Send your proxy to Oskar and stay at your 
work. What my violence can’t fix, you wouldn’t accomplish either. 

With cordial regards, 


Your careworn 
Benjamin. 


March 4 , Vienna 

Crespi reports that Babington Smith, as Chairman of the Com- 
mission de la Dette Publique has protested against any consoli- 
dation that may be attempted without first asking the Commission 
for official permission. 

Translator's Note: Austrian slant? term: the approximate American equivalent 

would be -big.time operator." 


1246 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

Tellement on me prend au serieux [This is how seriously I am 
being taken]! 7 

I.e., unless Crespi is lying. 


To Reitlinger: 

Strictly confidential. 

Dear Friend: 

Thanks for your good letter of February 28. However, I don’t 
fully share your views. 

1) There can t be any question of compensation, because we 
have no claim as yet and he need not “pay off” either the movement 
or myself. 

2) I am of the opinion that we have to consider Cohn’s pro- 
posals, although I officially rejected them at first. We must go into 
them, because this much was confidentially indicated to me and 
because it would be an enormous mistake to reject the confidence 
that he places in me. 

It is true, today it is a only a personal success which I and not 
the movement have achieved, but I must not reject this success, 
for I am accepting it for the future of the cause. 

The only difficulty is how to effect this transfer. I am sure of my 
own self. Not so much of the others, i.e., of their political and 
financial acumen. (Of course, this, like everything else, will remain 
strictly between ourselves!) 

After more mature deliberation I have not summoned my 
various committees to London, but here for March 17, because 
here I have the support of my Vienna colleagues who have been of 
one mind with me from the beginning, namely, that the J.C.T. 
ought to accept the concessions that have been offered to me. 

If we don’t manage this, then I shall be faced with the thornier 
task of carrying the matter out myself, i.e., in my name. I have no 
oubt that I shall succeed with this in London, for the head of a 
oremost house* with whom I was at variance politically for a 

[Herzl's°Note ]°^ ^ ^ amue * Montagu, according to a letter from Colonel Goldsmid. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1247 

time, has swung our way since I spoke with you and declared his 
financial readiness as soon as we have something positive in our 
hands. 

It is not Altmann! 

Should the matter take this form, I would probably first be 
sharply attacked by the press, because outsiders might believe that 
I was making business deals on my own account. But I mustn’t be 
sensitive. Incidentally, I may be able, with the consent of my 
Actions Committee, to consign the role that Cohn intended for 
me to one of our faithful and reliable people — provided he accepts 
another man in my place. 

This other man would, of course, have to make the same secret 
commitments as I would: that any profits he might make would go 
to the settlement and the treasury of our movement. What do you 
say to this?* 

This is how the matter stands at the moment. I assume that I am 
not wrong if I presuppose on your part a continuing interest and 
readiness to work for the cause to the extent of your ability. For 
this reason I shall inform you of developments that may interest 
you or in which you can help. But please don’t do anything now. 

With cordial regards, 


March 5, 1902 


Your trusting and devoted 
Dori. 


March 5, Vienna 

Went to see Mahmud Nedim yesterday, who thought that the 
£200 would be accepted for the Hejaz Railroad. So I asked him to 
write Tahsin that if this was not regarded as an inconvenient [in- 
convenience] I was donating the £ 200 to the Hejaz Railroad, other- 
wise to the Asile des pauvres [Poor-House]. 

' Reitlinger will think that I mean him. In this way I make sure of his silence 
in case he is not honest. [Herzl’s Note.] 




1248 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Mahmud Nedim discussed politics in his fashion, i.e., like a small 
child. 

The Spanish ambassador had been with him before I was. Na- 
turally he associates with all guiders of states, and he seems to hold 
his own, he doesn’t cut too bad a figure! What a circlel 


March 6 


To Izzet:* 

Your Excellency: 

I have the honor of enclosing herewith two newspaper clippings 
which were sent to me from London. 

On March 15th three million francs will be deposited to my ac- 
count in various banks, in accordance with my letter of Feb- 
ruary 22. 

I have given instructions to keep these sums at my disposal in 
banks in Paris, Berlin, and London. They will probably be the 
Credit Lyonnais (Paris), the Dresdener Bank (Berlin), and Lloyds 
Bank (London), one million francs in each. 

I shall permit myself to give you definite information in a week. 

Begging Your Excellency to accept the assurance of my high 
regard, 


Very devotedly yours, 
Th. Herzl. 


March 7 

A touching letter from Nordau which releases me from many a 
feeling against him. He writes: The limitless knavery of our 
opponents increases my admiration for your sacrifices. You are 
stronger and better than lam 


• In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1249 

March 9, on the train between Pest and Vienna 

I have been to see Vdmb£ry. A completely pointless visit, as I 
knew in advance — since I had just as little news for him as he had 

for me. 

But I had to take the trouble to see him; otherwise he would 
have believed that I have turned disloyal and ungrateful. 

A quite useless sacrifice. U t aliquid fecisse videamur [So that we 
might appear to have done something] it was decided that he 
should first write to Tahsin and not until April — if I haven’t re- 
ceived a fresh invitation by then — to the Sultan. 

Incidentally, Vdmbdry now thinks that I shall reach my goal! 
Last May he said the opposite. 

I believe him now. But when? 


March 11, Vienna 

From Wellisch I received this absolutely mysterious telegram 
today, dated yesterday: “Wait for letter first.” 

I take it to be a senseless act of self-importance on the part of 
a faiseur de zele [one who puts on a show of zeal], since there is 
absolutely nothing else on hand from Constantinople. 

The only explanation would be that Izzet said something to him 
when he transmitted my letter of the 6th. 


My idea of the shape of things to come is as follows: 

First of all the Sultan and his entourage [circle] will make capital 
°f my security vouchers at the Ottoman Bank and other in- 
stitutions, perhaps even governments. II se prevaudra de ma puis- 
sa nce financier e [He will boast with my financial strength]. This 
will help him on a few occasions, too. The financiers who have 
served him up to now will be afraid of my competition and will 
a dvance him money. In each case it will be a matter of £15° to 
200,000. After some time this true [trick] will be worn out and the 
nanciers will no longer be taken in by the fabulous Dr. Herzl, 



1250 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

whom they don’t rate too highly anyway, as a dreamer and a man 
backed* by too small funds. But I shall be backed more and more* 
After being rushed to Constantinople in vain two or three times, 
I shall pretend to lose my patience and say that I won’t take another 
step until I am given the Charter. 

At that moment I shall perhaps get it. 

* * * 

Vdmb^ry told me on Saturday how the Sultan got rid of a 
Minister once. I forget the name of this Minister; I believe it 
was a Minister of Education. He and the Grand Vizier came to the 
Sultan for an audience. First the Grand Vizier made a report. Then 
it was to be the Minister’s turn. He stepped forward and reached 
into his breast pocket to pull out some document. At that moment 
the Sultan loudly screamed for help: “He wants to murder me, 
he is pulling a gun.” 

From all sides people hurled themselves on the astounded man 
and found a gun in his breast pocket where there had been none 
before. 

Naturally the man was quickly executed. — 

This is the man I am negotiating with. 

Incidentally, this just goes to show my intuition: last May I 
didn t put the notes I had prepared for him in my breast or vest 
pocket, but into my glove. Because I thought that he might mistake 
my reaching into my breast pocket for reaching for a gun. 

* # # 

For the meeting of the Board and the Council which will take 
place here on the 17 th inst. I am this time preparing an introduc- 
tory explanation which I want to keep free of distortions and 
omissions for the future. 

I shall read the following declaration: 

Gentlemen of the Council and Board of Directors of the Jewish 
Colonial Trust: 

This time we have important, crucial matters to present as the 
* In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1251 

result of my last trip to Constantinople which I undertook in com- 
pany with Mr. Cowen, a governor. 

I was invited by a telegram from the Sultan to visit him. It 
seems that he has gained confidence in me, and he had certain 
propositions made to me. 

However, at this important moment, and much as I regret it, 

1 cannot conceal from you the fact that I have achieved only a 
personal and not a material success. 

The Sultan is not willing to make us any concessions in Pales- 
tine for the time being. Instead, he has offered to grant me coloni- 
zation in his other provinces of Asia Minor, particularly in Meso- 
potamia, on gratis territory. In return he demands various financial 
services: procuring loans, consolidation of the national debt, and 
industrial-technical arrangements for raising the general welfare 
in his Empire. 

I have rejected these proposals with due courtesy, because above 
all they lacked the one foundation on which I can stand in the spirit 
of our Basel program. I made my refusal in a final memorandum 
which became part of the permanent files of Yildiz Kiosk. 

To be sure, I would have had to decline the proposals for an- 
other reason as well — because, according to a surely incontro- 
vertible remark made in Constantinople by my colleague Cowen, 
our financial strength is not equal to it, and I would therefore have 
to turn to financiers outside our circle first. 

However, after this official conclusion of these negotiations it 
was indicated to me semi-officially that I should not regard the 
relations as broken off after all. Rather, I should accept the finan- 
cial concessions offered to me, because that way I would be able, 
in the course of events, to convince the Sultan of my good will and 
also acquire useful friendships in the country and in the govern- 
ment. If I decided to do so, I was to manifest this readiness by 
furnishing proof of security of 2 or 3 million francs. Then fresh 
negotiations would probably start. 

I said that I hadn’t come as a businessman and couldn’t take on 
ev en the most profitable concessions without consulting my friends 
fi «t. After that I departed. 


1252 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Although I did reject the Sultan’s offers at first, I am of the 
opinion that they should be accepted. My colleagues of the Com- 
mittee of Five of the Council also subscribe to my view. We must 
get firm ground under our feet and must try to achieve a lasting 
relationship with the Turkish government. 

The concessions which the Sultan offers me probably have some 
financial value — perhaps even very great value. This will be seen 
when we go into the details. Although the concessions were offered 
to me personally and not to our Bank or to the Zionist movement, 
I shall turn them over to our financial organization, the J.C. Trust, 
as soon as possible; therefore I am inclined to demand the firmans 
for myself and my assigns. 

Afterwards our Bank will take over the rights I have acquired — 
and we shall have gained a firm footing in Turkey. 

Gentlemen, I cannot urge you earnestly enough to accept my 
proposals. At the first moment it might seem as if we were deviat- 
ing from our goal. But actually we shall approach it in this way, 
though it is a roundabout way. We Zionists didn’t create the J.C. 
Trust to make money somewhere, to have an ordinary bank for 
credit transactions with the Jewish public in Russia and elsewhere. 
The Bank is only the instrument of our movement. 

It is my hope — and my local colleagues join me in this hope — 
that we shall in the course of our deliberations convince you of the 
expediency of our propositions. Otherwise I should have no other 
choice but to take the concessions anyway and carry them through 
with ordinary business people. That would not be good for our 
movement, for many reasons. 

I won’t even bother to mention the fear that my efforts could 
then be misinterpreted by the public — although this, too, is a 
rather serious scruple. 

It might be possible to circumvent this difficulty by having one 
of our reliable people figure nominally as the concessionaire — that 
is, provided the Sultan would be willing to give the concessions to 
a person other than myself, in whom he has placed his trust. At the 
moment I don’t know this, for, since I was rejecting everything, 

I wasn’t able to go into such a detail. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1253 

But there are still greater difficulties. If we leave the exploitation 
of the concessions to ordinary businessmen, they may have differ- 
ences of opinion with the T urkish government, and then our move- 
ment would suffer from the adverse reaction. 

Finally, however, the businessmen would of course demand a 
share of the profits, and at least one-half. Even though I or the 
nominal concessionaire would donate my or his half to the coloniza- 
tion project, that is, to the party treasury or to the National Fund, 
it would still be a pity to give up the other half. Perhaps major 
amounts will be involved. These would then substantially increase 
the value of our shares if our Bank owned the concessions. Perhaps 
on the basis of such prospective profits a syndicate might be 
organized or found which would take at a higher rate all or some 
of the shares that are still unsold. 

For these reasons, which are still to be elaborated on in the dis- 
cussion, I urgently recommend to you, gentlemen, to make the 
resources of our Bank available in an appropriate manner and to 
decide that the J.C.T. will take over and carry through the con- 
cessions to be acquired by me. 


March 1 3 , Vienna 

Bad news from Constantinople. 

Wellisch’s wire has been explained. He writes under the date of 
the 9 th that after he had delivered my letter to Izzet he was called 
hy messenger to Ibrahim, who had instructed him to write me 
de ne rien entreprendre jusqu’a nouvel avis [to do nothing until 
further notice].” 

This means: Waved off I 

Je m’y connais [I knew it would happen]. 

There is a variety of explanations. I am in a fog again. 

Did Russia or some other Power wish that nothing be done with 
me? 

Did competing financiers appear? 

What counter-intrigues or deals have prevailed? 


1254 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Before my court council-of-war assembles on the 17th the battle 
will be lost. 


* # # 

I am writing to Wellisch for information, and the following to 
Crespi:* 

Dear Sir: 

Kindly send me accurate information on all the affairs that are 
currently occupying 363 and his group. 

From Paris I am informed of things I cannot believe— that is 
how ridiculous and fantastic they seem to me. 


Cordially yours, 
Herzl. 


March 13, Vienna 

ToNordau: 

Dear Friend: 

Under the date of the 9th you write me nothing that isn’t already 
contained in my letter to you and Alex. 

(Then I explain to him my hope that the Board and the Council, 
meeting here where I myself, my 4 Viennese, Wolffsohn, Katzenel- 
sohn, are supporting my project of having the Bank acquire the 
concessions, will decide in accordance with my wishes.) 

Continuing: 

Therefore I hope that the worst eventuality — my having to take 
on the concessions myself — won’t even arise. 

But if it does, then I and you, my closest friends, must have 
elephant hides. 

It should not be overlooked 

1) that I would de plein droit [with every right] be the owner 
of these concessions which have been offered to me and to me 
alone, not to the Bank or the movement. Naturally, I have my 

# In French in the original. 


the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1255 

own code of behavior and act in accordance with it. But neither the 
Bank nor the movement has any legal or moral claim. Cohn regards 
me as the man to whom he can entrust his interests, not the Con- 
gress, not the Bank’s Board of Directors, etc. However, I don’t 
differentiate my character as a public figure from my character as 
a private individual. That is simply my special code of behavior; 

2) that from the outset I am giving our inner circle explanations 
that bind me. Our unwieldy, deficient, desperately badly function- 
ing apparatus at least offers me the advantage of being covered by 
it if I cannot make everything public. What do I then care about 
being suspected and abused? In an extremity there finally will be a 
public gesture which will save my honor. 

Therefore I need not be so worried as to become inactive. Then, 
too, I have already spun initial threads to Paris and London. To be 
sure, these are quite difficult matters in which one must keep a cool 
head. So don’t put my head in a whirl, my dear friends. I mustn’t 
start being afraid. 

(Then I tell him how it had occurred to me in the fog on the 
Black Sea that if we went down, some day when Constantinople was 
taken by storm my receipt for £ 200 would be found in Yildiz and 
no one would know that I had given the money to Cowen.) 

But this is not how things are in the business transactions which 
1 shall outline in advance in official memoranda of the Council, 
the Board of Directors, etc. 


March 1 3 

Now I am tormented by the thought that Reitlinger might, bona 
w mala fide [in good or in bad faith], have committed an indiscre- 
tion which has led to other groups competing for the concessions 
now. 


* * * 

Perhaps the current waving off is a confirmation of my entry of 
two days ago on p. 1249^ The Sultan is now using my proposals 
to get money from others. 



1256 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Or he is giving the concessions to Rouvier, who is said to be 
there now, in return for “him”* carrying out the consolidation of 
the dette for him. 


March 14, Vienna 

The wind has shifted. We are deep in the fog again. 

Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem [Remember 
to keep a level head in adverse circumstances].** 

Yesterday evening’s edition of the N. Fr. Pr. contained two news 
items qui me disent long [which speak volumes to me]. 

1) The day before yesterday the Sultan gave a dinner in honor 
of Constans and received him in special audience afterwards. 
Once a scoundrel,*** always a scoundrel.*** 

The same Constans who caused him the Mytilene affair on 
account of the measly Lorando-Tubini debt. 

2) The Sultan approved the Rouvier project for the consolida- 
tion of the dette. 

The two items appear to be connected and to have something 
to do with my coming and going. 

Evidently the Sultan has made capital of my presence. I was the 
Jew who was sent for in order to make the other competitors more 
pliable. It has been acomplished. 

The pity was and is that because of my editorial post — that is, 
my livelihood — I wasn’t able to stay down there for a few weeks. 
On aurait trouve [They would have found out]! 

This also explains the waving off. Tout est rompu [Everything 
has gone to smash]. 

The only satisfaction I have is that the Turks will get the trim- 
ming of their lives from the French crooks. 

• Translator’s Note: . . . "gegen dem " — humorously ungrammatical. 

•• Translator’s Note: Quotation from Horace, Odes, II, 3. 

•••In English in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1257 

March 14 

Wrote to Eulenburg today to put in a good word for the per- 
formance of my Solon at the Konigliches Schauspielhaus [Royal 
Theatre] (among the repertory plays some time). 

And I added: 

I have been to Constantinople. That is always a Wonderland. 
At the moment the French are riding high. And how! And what 
Frenchmen! 

# # * 


March 15, Vienna 

Yesterday, on Kamtnerstrasse, I ran into Ambassador Mahmud 
Nedim and told him that I would call on him on Monday or 
Tuesday morning. I intend to show him the letters of credit for 
three million which Levontin has provided in the meantime. 

# * # 

I shall present the following document to the Board of Directors: 
Gentlemen: 

As a supplement to the announcements read in the joint session 
of the Council and the Board I give you the following additional 
information: 

Even though the Sultan has offered the concessions to me, at 
the same time I was given to understand by intermediaries that 
there are certain private interests which must be met on this oc- 
casion. In all, an amount of 1 10,000 pounds is involved. 

This amount would have to be raised by the Board; and since 
it would not do to use such a sum from the present assets of the 
Bank, we would have to try to pay it from the profits of the 
syndicate. If the syndicate that is to be formed took over one-half 
°f the still unsold shares at 3 pounds, this would provide an 
adequate fund. 

In this connection I state expressly that I would under no con- 


1258 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

dition handle the distribution of this sum myself, but that other 

agents would have to be appointed by the Board for this purpose 

For in the interest of our movement, in the future as in the past 

no monies must go through my hands. 

Read in closed executive session of the Board on 

* > 

co-signed by- 

* # # 

Letter to the Sultan, to be sent off on March 18th:* 

Sire: 

I have the honor to give Y.I.M. an accounting of the steps I have 
taken since my most respectful letter of February 23, 1902. 

Having got my friends together for consultation, I informed 
them of Y.I.M. s generous disposition toward the Jews. They were 
deeply touched by this. However, they believe as I do that a 
restriction on the permission to settle our unfortunates in Turkey 
would produce a disagreeable effect on public opinion. 

But from our deliberations there has emerged a different con- 
clusion from the one expressed in my aforementioned letter. 

The conclusion is this: we demand nothing! Since it is a matter 
above all of convincing Y.I.M. and the Ottoman people of our 
sincere good-will, we wish to take the first step on the road to con- 
fidence which must become mutual. 

For the moment, then, we do not demand any concession of 
general colonization — and we offer our financial services just the 
same. 

That is to say, we believe that once Y.I.M. has got to know us 
through the services we render, he will later grant us of his own 
accord what seems to present difficulties today. 


March 16, Vienna 

Yesterday coal-Gutmann inquired of me whether I would accept 
an invitation to the meeting of the A llianz. 


• In French in the original. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1259 

I immediately went over to see him and told him in the slovenly 
tone which is indicated with such uneducated people: 

"The discussion is nothing but hogwash. 

"You want to forestall the new Rumanian emigration? (But per- 
haps you’re just afraid of the campaign of Dr. Elias of Mulhouse 
against the entire A llianz). 

In short, I acted as though I believed him. “I see only two ways,” 
Isaid. “Either you get the local Rothschild and two or three other 
people like that for a secret conference at which I shall explain 
everything. 

"Or you get the I.C.A. directors together for a discussion with 
me." 

The latter course was decided on after a lengthy conversation 
in which he told me some pretty details about the Hirsch money. 
E.g., that in Galicia the major part of the funds was embezzled by 
the officials of the Foundation. Further, that Narcisse Leven is 
himself only an official — with 50,000 francs per annum. And that 
for Galicianizing the Hirsch Foundation (appointment of four 
Gentile trustees, etc.) Dr. Rappoport, who once made a fortune at 
the Landerbank, was — raised to the nobility! 

And the misery in Galicia remains the way it was. 

We agreed that I was to compose the letters of invitation to the 
I.C.A. directors for him. 

This is the draft that I am sending him today: 

Dear Sir: 

Again we have bad reports from Rumania. The legal and ad- 
ministrative chicanery give rise to fears of an even much worse 
emigration this coming Spring than the one of two years ago. 

In the face of this very serious situation the Vienna Israelitische 
Allianz plans to organize a quite confidential conference on Easter 
Sunday. It is to take place at Frankfurt a.M., and the invited 
participants are to be only the presidents of the Alliances, the 
Erectors of the I.C.A., and Dr. Herzl. 

The terrible state of distress in Rumania would probably be 
enough of an appeal to induce you to attend. But you will surely 



1260 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

not hesitate when I tell you that the possibility seems to be opening 
up of finding a lasting remedy for all these calamities. 

For me the trip is truly difficult enough, since there is illness and 
worry in my family. Therefore, the fact that I have decided to make 
the trip and have asked Dr. Herzl to go along will speak more 
loudly than all words. I most urgently request you not to be absent 
from Frankfurt on Easter Sunday. 


With respectful regards, 
D. von Gutmann. 


March 1 8, Vienna 

In the meantime Gutmann had begged off. He said he didn’t 
want to invite the I.C.A. people because they wouldn’t come. 

Despite this I went to yesterday’s meeting of the Isr. Allianz at 
Gutmann’s place of business. 

En deux temps trois mouvements [In two shakes of a lamb’s tail] 
I explained to the assembled cour de miracles [court of miracles] 
the only possible plan for an aid campaign for Rumania: 

First, convening a conference of the Alliances and the I.C.A. at 
Frankfurt. 

There, establishment of the will and the readiness to help. To 
what extent? 

When this headquarters has been established and is ready, I will 
inform it of my achievements, show it where the emigration is to 
be led. 

Then I shall at one stroke organize 2—300 local committees 
needed in Rumania. These committees will nominate the emi- 
grants. The others will be told: Stayl Hold out for another six 
months or a year. Your turn will come, too. 

The emigrants will be settled in farm-produce cooperatives. By 
combining mortgage and personal credit there will be a possibility 
of giving the settlers not the hitherto existing shnorr help, but 
work help. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1261 

I made an impression — and I think they all thought as one: we’ll 
steal this plan from him. 

With this I left them sitting there and went out. 

# * * 

In the Board and the Council yesterday I pushed through every- 
thing I wanted. 

Naturally a number of them didn’t understand me. Ussishkin 
got angry and said he would have nothing more to do with any- 
thing. I had to fight to channel into the Bank the possible emolu- 
ments that would otherwise fall to my share. 

Curious bank of J ewsl 

Today I am taking the 3 letters of credit to Mahmud Nedim. 

* * * 

Tolzzet, March 18, 1902:* 

Your Excellency: 

Yesterday I showed His Excellency Mahmud Nedim the letters 
of credit for the sum of three million francs which, following your 
advice, I have had deposited in three banks (in Berlin, Paris, and 
London). I have asked H.E. to report my step to H.I.M. 

From Easter on I shall be at your disposal if you need me. 

® e 8gi n g Your Excellency to accept the assurance of my high 
regard, 

Yours devotedly, 

Th.H. 

March 19, Vienna 

Letter to Ibrahim:* 

Your Excellency: 

Yesterday I paid a call on His Excellency Mahmud Nedim Bey 
^d showed him the letters of credit for three million francs in 

^ French in the original. 


1262 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

banks at Paris, London, and Berlin, in accordance with my letter 
of February 23. 

These letters of credit are valid until May 15th, and starting at 
Easter I shall keep myself at the disposal of H.I.M. in case he wishes 
to summon me again to agree upon arrangements. Until then I 
beg Y.E. to be good enough to transmit my Philosophical Tales to 
H.I.M.; maybe they will give him some pleasure. 

Wishing to send 200 Turkish pounds to one of your good causes, 
I have directed this sum to the Committee for the Hejaz Railroad. 
With the expression of my high regard and devotion, 

Th.H. 


March 24, Vienna 

This letter to Ibrahim wasn’t sent off, because at the same time 
I received word that the long-sought typewriter is now here. 

It was the fault of an inefficient shipping department with a 
wrong address. 

Now I intend to send it down by the factory representative in 
Vienna. When I telephoned the Embassy yesterday and the day 
before about the necessary transport papers, Mahmud Nedim was 
not at home to me. 

Was that supposed to be a sign that he was warned off associating 
with me? 

One good thing about despotisms is that one can immediately 
sense from the lowest doorkeeper whether one is in favor or dis- 
favor. Every blow spreads electrically. 

* * # 

The Mainz Israelit and the Jewish Chronicle have published an 
identical slander — evidently by that ragamuffin Willy Bambus of 
Berlin— against our Bank. This is my Purim joy. The libel is so 
palpable that I can haul them into the Mainz and London courts 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1263 
and demonstrate the perfectly honorable way in which our Bank 
is run. 

# # * 

For two days I have been haunted by an idea which may be a 
splendid one: 

1 want to try to come to an understanding with Rouvier. He 
shall make the consolidation for us. The go-between I plan to use 
for this is Crespi. 

Today I am writing Wellisch to suggest to Crespi as his (W.’s) 
idea that he offer me to mediate between Rouvier and myself. 


March 24 


Letter to Ibrahim:* 

Your Excellency: 

Permit me to inform you of the arrival of that typewriter with 
Arabic type, the first of its kind, the modest present which H.I.M. 
has done me the honor of accepting. 

1 am sending it by an employee of the company by which I had 
this machine made. In order to avoid any mistake, I permit myself 
to add that the bearer is not entitled to any compensation. The 
machine has naturally been paid for in America, and the man who 
is bringing it in order to explain its use has had his traveling 
expenses etc. paid by myself. 

May I ask Y.E. also to transmit to H.I.M. my book, which will 
perhaps give him some pleasure. 

A week ago I took to H.E. Mahmud Nedim Bey my letters of 

credit for 3 mill, francs, valid until May 15th (at banks in Paris, 

London, and Berlin), in conformance with my letter of February 
22nd. 

Wishing to send 200 T urkish pounds to one of your good causes, 

ave Erected this sum to the Committee for the Hejaz Railroad. 

'In French in the original. 



1264 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Begging Y.E. to accept the expression of my high regard and 
devotion, ° 


Th. H. 


March 26, Vienna 

Last night Mahmud Nedim sent his servant to me: he must 
definitely speak with me today. 

This morning I went to see him. He had received a surprising 
telegram from Tahsin Bey in reply to my showing of the three- 
million letters of credit. 

In the wire Tahsin asked — who I was, what my occupation was, 
and for what purpose I had made the deposits. 

Mahmud Nedim himself apologized for this behavior. “Entre 
nous je dots confesser que chez nous Vordre laisse a desirer [Be- 
tween ourselves, I must confess that the order in our country leaves 
something to be desired],” he said. 

I immediately understood the meaning of Tahsin’s inquiry. It 
could mean only two things: Either he knew nothing about the 
agreements I had made in Yildiz and wanted to find out from 
Mahmud Nedim for his own benefit. Or it was an inquiry on in- 
structions from the Sultan. 

A combination of the two possibilities was conceivable, too. The 
Sultan, who doesn t show his hand to his secretaries, has kept from 
Tahsin what he is doing through Izzet. Then, when Tahsin came 
with Mahmud Nedim’s report about the three million, the Sultan 
acted in front of Tahsin as though the information came unex- 
pectedly, and said: Find out who the man is. 

In any case, I did well not to trust anyone in this den of lies and 
to test Izzet s counsels for their genuineness via Mahmud Nedim- 
Tahsin. 

To be sure, it wasn t conceivable that Ibrahim’s invitation and 
the entire negotiations in February should have happened with- 
out the Sultan s orders. But it was conceivable that Ibrahim had 
suppressed my subsequent letters. Moreover, since the two did have 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1265 

orders from the Sultan, they could have conducted the negotiations 
with me in such a way that I had to refuse — if, that is, they were 
acting in the service or interest of the Constans-Rouvier syndicate. 

I had started a check on the delivery of my letters through 
Ibrahim by having the ambassador write to Tahsin. 

Now I advised him to wire Tahsin as follows: 

Since I was invited by Ibrahim upon orders from the Sultan and 
negotiated about the proposals in Yildiz, I was given to understand 
that I must not inform anyone of the substance of the negotiations. 
The whole story was contained in my letter of February 22, and 
I would turn over this letter to the ambassador if I were instructed 
to do so. 

I left it to his discretion to give any information about me per- 
sonally that he thought proper. 

Then he showed me what he intended to wire this very day: that 
I was a respected man in Vienna, a writer by profession, with a 
certain influence in Jewish financial circles, so that I could effect 
financial operations. 

If he really sends this off, it’ll be fine. I believe Tahsin wanted 
an unfavorable report from Mahmud. The latter fears, however, 
that I may have secret good relations with the Sultan and do him 
harm. Therefore, he will give a colorless but not unfavorable 
report. 

March 27, Vienna 

Cecil Rhodes is dead. For a time I had him in mind as a fund 
raiser. I didn’t manage to get together with him. My helpers in 
England proved a failure in this instance. 

March 30, Vienna 

Last night a disagreeable letter came from Wellisch in Con- 
stantinople. On the same day on which Mahmud Nedim evidently 
was forced to come to Vienna (on the 25th inst.), Wellisch was 
summoned to the Palace. 

(Wellisch’s letter:) 


1266 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

Constantinople, March 26, 1902 

My Dear Doctor Herzl: 

At 6 o’clock this morning a messenger came to tell me to come 
to the factory (Yildiz) at noon to see Frankl (Ibrahim). 

I was there at the appointed time and met Frankl who told me 
the following: Cohn (Sultan) has been informed through the 
branch (Embassy) in your city that you, doctor, have made bank 
deposits for a certain matter. 

Cohn questioned him about this, whereupon he answered that 
he knew nothing whatever of the matter. He had received a letter 
containing an enclosure for Cohn, and he had delivered it, but 
there had been no answer to it. At the same time, Poliak (Izzet) 
had also received a letter in which Doctor Herzl had written about 
the matter. At Poliak’s request he (Frankl) had sent word to the 
doctor (my most humble message of the 9th) not to do anything 
until nouvel avis [further notice]. Frankl spoke with visible excite- 
ment, repeating a number of points. Finally he said more calmly 
that he requested Doctor Herzl to do nothing of the sort. After 
which he asked me to go to see Poliak and to come back after I had 
spoken with him. 

Poliak was leaning out the window on the ground-floor of the 
wing where his office is located, stopped me as I passed by, and after 
I had told him that I had seen Frankl, he told me the following: 
Write the doctor to withdraw the money; when the time comes 
we shall let him know how to proceed.” 

Then I went back to Frankl, and to his questioning I replied 
what Poliak had said; after that he instructed me to convey his 
most amicable regards to you. 

With the expression of my deep respect, I am, my dear doctor 
Herzl, 


Very faithfully yours, 
Weber. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1267 

March 30 

At the first moment this letter produced an unpleasant effect 
on me. Having slept on it, I don’t find it so bad. Accordingly Izzet 
seems to be on my side, but Tahsin against me. 

I plan to call Vamb^ry to account for this. 


(Letter from Crespi pasted in:)* 


P£ra, March 30, 1902 


Dear Sir: 

I should like to direct your special attention to the following 
drcumstance: 

The day before yesterday, while I was calling upon 48 [Tahsin], 
after talking about indifferent matters, he called upon me, in the 
most bantering way, to tell him the truth about what you did with 
125 [Izzet] and the Grand Master of Ceremonies. I answered that 
you had not discussed the subject with me and that I was com- 
pletely ignorant of what you had done with them, but that in any 
case, if anything was brewing it could never be without him, 48. 

He broke into a smile that spoke volumes. I believed I could 
infer that he was satisfied that the other two had not succeeded and 
that he was perhaps not wholly innocent of their defeat. Perhaps 
1 am wrong, but is it still necessary for you to indicate to me how 
I ought to behave toward him the next time I see him. I attach an 
interest to this that should, no doubt, not escape you; and if he 
has an unpleasant impression, I must exercise my wits to overcome 
it. These are secretive personalities who cherish spite over the 
least thing. 

363 is furious with Rouvier. I have the information from the 
German Embassy. 363 had M. Rouet, First Dragoman of the 
French Embassy, summoned to ask him what M. Rouvier meant 
hy imposing new conditions, such as the exclusion of Priority loans, 
Customs, and Fisheries from the consolidation and unification 

In French in the original. 


1268 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 

project. 363 expressed the desire to receive M. Constans, who had 
been received in audience yesterday. 

I haven’t had time to collect the least information. If I learn 
anything whatever, I shall hasten to inform you of it. 

With my sincere greetings, 
Crespi. 


April 1, Vienna 

My good Vdmb£ry bdcsi: 

I have learned from several sources and absolutely reliably that 
Cohn’s 1st Secretary is working against me. I am telling you this, 
because it will certainly interest you to know how your man is 
behaving. I believe it would be indicated to open his eyes to the fact 
that I urgently desire his friendship. 

With cordial regards. 


Your devoted 
Dori. 


April 3 

Yesterday evening this pneumatic-tube letter came from the 
Turkish ambassador: 

Dear Doctor Herzl: 

I have just received the expected answer. 


Yours truly, 
Mahmud Nedim 

I presume that Tahsin has instructed him to worm things out 
of me. Since he trembles before Tahsin, he will do anything, and 
I will help the man, because that way I shall be excused with Izzet 
if, misled by the ambassador, I have let Tahsin in on it as well. 


THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1269 

Un peu le jeu de bascule [A bit of a see-saw game]. Perhaps this 
will make Izzet angry in his turn? 

# * # 

Yesterday Benedikt asked me to request the Grand Duke of 
Baden to send us a few chapters from his memoirs which are to 
appear on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his reign. I am 
writing: 


April 3, 1902 


Most Illustrious Grand Duke, 

Most Gracious Prince and Lord: 

On the anniversary of Your Royal Highness’s accession I should 
like to offer today my most respectful congratulations which come 
from a grateful heart. Once the defile [procession] of potentates 
and peoples starts, such a modest well-wisher will not be noticed. 
And yet I feel impelled to express in a few words what a favor of 
fate I have considered it that it has been granted to me to receive on 
the hard road of the idea of my life occasional support and instruc- 
tion from the kindest and wisest prince of my time. 

The jubilee will be celebrated in Austria, too, for Grand Duke 
Friedrich of Baden has erected himself a realm that transcends 
boundaries, in people’s hearts. On this occasion I should very 
much like to publish a chapter from Y.R.H.’s memoirs in the 
N- Fr. Pr of whose literary section I am in charge. If this idea does 
not strike Y.R.H. as too distasteful, I would request that a secretary 
or the publisher be instructed to send me the galley-proofs soon. 

With the most heart-felt respect and the most profound grati- 
tude, I remain 


Your Royal Highness’s very obedient servant, 
Dr. Th.H. 


1270 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L 

April 4, Vienna 

Yesterday Mahmud Nedim showed me and translated for me a 
letter from Tahsin Bey: my deposit of 3 millions was based on a 
malentendu [misunderstanding]. Je le savais bien, parbleu [Well, 
I knew that], I just wanted to show them the color of some money— 
so they shouldn’t forget me. — Thus closes this book of my political 
novel.